On the afternoon of November 10, 2025, Japan’s eastern coastline was rattled by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake, the latest in a string of seismic events that have kept the nation on edge. According to the US Geological Survey and as reported by Anadolu, the quake struck off Yamada, in Iwate prefecture, at 4:23 pm local time (0723 GMT), at a shallow depth of 11.2 kilometers (6.9 miles). Thankfully, there were no immediate reports of injuries, property damage, or tsunami warnings issued in the aftermath. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) measured the quake at level three on its seven-point seismic intensity scale, which typically means most people indoors would feel moderate shaking, but little structural impact would be expected.
While this quake might have seemed like a routine tremor in a country that experiences roughly 1,500 earthquakes per year, it came on the heels of a much stronger seismic event just a day prior. On November 9, a powerful earthquake—initially estimated at magnitude 6.7 but later revised to 6.9 by the JMA and measured at 6.8 by the USGS—struck off the Sanriku coast at 5:03 pm local time. That quake, at a depth of about 16 kilometers, prompted a tsunami advisory for Iwate Prefecture, with residents in coastal areas such as Ofunato, Rikuzentakata, and Otsuchi urged to evacuate to higher ground.
The region’s nerves were further tested when tiny tsunami waves, peaking at 20 centimeters (less than eight inches), were observed at ports in Kuji and Ofunato, and 10 centimeters at Miyako and Kamaishi. The JMA, acting out of an abundance of caution, issued an alert for a possible tsunami of up to one meter, warning that waves could potentially reach as high as three meters in some spots. The advisory was lifted about three hours later, with no injuries or property damage reported, and no abnormalities detected at local nuclear power plants, according to Kyodo News and the Associated Press.
Sunday’s earthquake also caused a temporary suspension of the Tohoku shinkansen bullet train service between Sendai and Shin-Aomori stations due to power outages, as JR East confirmed. These disruptions, while brief, served as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability to seismic events and the importance of Japan’s rigorous disaster preparedness protocols. As Newsweek highlighted, at least 36 additional quakes—mostly aftershocks—were recorded in the area from Sunday into Monday, some extending as far north as Hokkaido. The JMA and USGS kept the public updated, advising continued vigilance in the days ahead, especially with the risk of strong aftershocks lingering for up to a week.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi addressed the nation on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "At around 17:03, an earthquake with its epicenter off the Sanriku coast occurred. Seismic intensity 4 was observed in Iwate Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture, and an information liaison room has been immediately set up in the Prime Minister's Office. A tsunami advisory has been issued, so please evacuate away from the coast immediately. The tsunami that may arrive later could be larger than expected, so please stay alert for further information. Additionally, aftershocks are possible, so please remain cautious of any strong shaking."
Japan’s advanced early warning systems and strict building codes—among the most robust in the world—are credited with minimizing the potential impact of such frequent seismic activity. The country’s location atop the intersection of four tectonic plates—the Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian, and North American—places it squarely in the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region responsible for about 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes. Subduction, where one plate moves beneath another, is the primary driver of these powerful undersea quakes.
The events of November 9 and 10 have inevitably stirred memories of the catastrophic 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, which killed nearly 20,000 people and triggered a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. That disaster remains etched in the national consciousness, shaping both public anxiety and government policy. While officials have stated there is no direct link between the recent quakes and the 2011 event, the region’s seismic history means that every alert is taken seriously.
Masashi Kiyomoto, an earthquake and tsunami official at the JMA, offered a sobering assessment during a televised briefing: "This is an area that has seen a series of seismic activities. It is possible that larger earthquakes will occur." His warning echoed the agency’s guidance that the risk for significant tremors remains highest in the next two to three days following a major quake, with aftershocks potentially continuing for up to a week.
Despite the flurry of seismic activity, the response from local and national authorities was swift and coordinated. Evacuation orders were issued and later lifted as conditions stabilized, and emergency services remained on high alert. The bullet trains, a lifeline for the region, were quickly restored once power was reestablished. The lack of injuries, fatalities, or major structural damage—remarkable given the magnitude of Sunday’s quake—speaks to the effectiveness of Japan’s preparedness measures and the resilience of its infrastructure.
Yet, the psychological toll is harder to measure. For communities along the Sanriku coast, the sound of tsunami sirens and the rumble of aftershocks revive painful memories of past disasters. Demonstrations continue to be held, as recently as the day before the latest quakes, protesting what some see as insufficient recognition by authorities of the ongoing risks associated with nuclear power. The scars of 2011 are still visible, with some residents yet to return home and debates over disaster readiness ongoing.
Japan’s government, for its part, continues to invest in disaster reduction and emergency preparation, aware that its complex coastline and tectonic setting make vigilance a permanent necessity. As CBS News and other outlets observed, the nation’s experience and technology are unmatched, but nature’s unpredictability ensures that every tremor is met with a mix of scientific scrutiny and human apprehension.
As the country moves forward, the events of November 2025 serve as a timely reminder of both the power of the Earth beneath Japan’s feet and the resilience of those who call this seismic archipelago home.