On December 31st, 2025, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Japan’s Tohoku region on New Year’s Eve, with significant shaking felt along the coastline of Iwate Prefecture. According to the latest observations from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), there was no risk of a tsunami resulting from the earthquake. While the Tohoku Shinkansen briefly suspended services, it did not have a severe impact on the New Year’s travel rush.
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.1, occurred at around 11:52 p.m. local time on Wednesday, December 31st, with a depth of about 20 kilometers off the coast of Iwate Prefecture.
Data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) indicated a magnitude 6 earthquake off the coast of Noda in eastern Japan on Wednesday, with a depth of 19.3 kilometers (approximately 11.99 miles).
Reports from NHK and Kyodo News mentioned that the earthquake caused noticeable shaking in the Tohoku region.
In Iwate Prefecture, Noda Village and Fudai Village, as well as certain coastal areas of Aomori Prefecture, experienced a maximum intensity of 4, while the northern part of Miyagi Prefecture and inland areas of Iwate Prefecture registered an intensity of 3.
The earthquake was felt as far as Hakodate in Hokkaido to Fukushima Prefecture, with even slight shaking reported in tall buildings in Tokyo.
The Japan Meteorological Agency swiftly issued a statement after the earthquake, confirming that while it was of a significant magnitude, no tsunami risk was posed.
The Higashidori Nuclear Power Plant in Aomori Prefecture and the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant in Miyagi Prefecture conducted inspections immediately after the earthquake. The operator, Tohoku Electric Power Company, stated that there were no abnormalities in the monitoring data and that operations were proceeding as usual.
According to JR East Japan, parts of the Tohoku Shinkansen briefly activated the automatic braking system, resulting in a temporary suspension of services. However, normal operations resumed within 20 minutes after confirming the safety of the tracks, minimizing disruptions to the New Year holiday travel rush.
Meteorological experts have cautioned that there is a possibility of aftershocks of similar magnitude in the next week, especially in the next two to three days. As the Tohoku region is currently in the snowfall season, the earthquake may have loosened the soil, increasing the risk of snow avalanches or mudslides in mountainous areas.
The Noda area mentioned by the USGS corresponds to Noda Village in Kunohe District, Iwate Prefecture. Located along the Sanriku coast, the village was severely affected during the “2011 Great East Japan Earthquake,” making local residents particularly sensitive to seismic activity.