Tokyo International News Agency

On the night of March 25, 2026, a widespread earthquake struck Japan, with many residents experiencing significant shaking, particularly in the Kyushu and Kansai regions. On the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the phrase "Jishin kita" (Earthquake came) quickly became a trending topic, with a flurry of posts describing the immediate situation and the fear it evoked. The earthquake is believed to have occurred almost simultaneously in southeastern Hyogo Prefecture and the Chikugo region of Fukuoka Prefecture, with a maximum seismic intensity (Shindo) of 3 reported. However, many users expressed surprise at the suddenness and sound of the shaking, with comments such as "BAM!!!! The earthquake came," "The sound was super scary," and "It felt like the house was punched from the side." A considerable number of people also reported feeling "quite a shake" or a "strange kind of tremor," suggesting that the felt intensity w...

At approximately 5:03 PM on November 9, 2025, an earthquake with its epicenter off the Sanriku Coast struck, registering a maximum seismic intensity (Shindo) of 4 in Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the epicenter was estimated to be about 130 km east of Miyako, at a depth of 10 km, with a magnitude (M) of 6.7. Following the earthquake, a tsunami advisory was issued for the coastal areas of Iwate Prefecture. At 5:39 PM, a 10-centimeter tsunami was observed in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, and a minor tsunami was recorded in Miyako City. The government immediately established an information liaison office at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, and Ms. Sanae Takaichi urged the public via social media to evacuate coastal areas promptly. The JMA continues to warn that subsequent tsunamis could be larger than initially predicted, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance. While Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures observed the maximum ...

Just after noon on October 26, 2025, two earthquakes with epicenters in northern Tochigi Prefecture occurred in quick succession. The first earthquake registered a magnitude (M) of 4.7 and a maximum seismic intensity of 4, causing widespread shaking primarily across the Kanto region. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the first earthquake struck around 12:04 PM on the same day. Its epicenter was in northern Tochigi Prefecture, at a very shallow depth of approximately 10 km, and its magnitude was estimated at M4.7. This earthquake recorded a seismic intensity of 4 in Nakasai, Ashio-machi, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, and Tsudo, Ashio-machi, Nikko City. Additionally, seismic intensities of 1 to 3 were observed in various locations including Ashikaga City, Tochigi City, Sano City, Kanuma City, Takanezawa Town in Tochigi Prefecture; Maebashi City, Kiryu City, Numata City, Tatebayashi City, Shibukawa City, Oura Town in Gunma Prefecture; Saitama City, Gyoda City, Konosu C...