The Japan Times
Authorities are warning the public to remain vigilant for strong shaking over the next week after a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Tokyo and the broader Kanto region on Sunday, injuring at least 37 people.
The quake, which was centered in southern Ibaraki Prefecture and struck at a depth of 68 kilometers, was recorded at an intensity of lower 5 on Japan’s seven-point shindo seismic scale in Tokyo’s Adachi Ward, as well as in parts of Ibaraki, Saitama and Chiba prefectures. Level 4 shaking was recorded in other areas of Tokyo as well as Tochigi, Gunma and Kanagawa prefectures.
Lower 5 can cause objects to fall off shelves and force people to grab onto things to steady themselves, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
The shaking, lasting up to a minute in some areas, was felt shortly after earthquake early warning alarms sounded on mobile phones, jolting many people awake at around 2 a.m.
It left a total of 22 people lightly hurt in Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa and Ibaraki Prefectures, with 15 more injured in Tokyo, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. One person was seriously injured in Kanagawa.
The quake also caused a partial collapse of the ceiling at the Ushiku City Hall in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, according to NHK, while there had been reports of people trapped in elevators in Tokyo.
No tsunami alert was issued.
The quake also disrupted railway services, with JR East reporting delays across a number of train lines Sunday morning, including the Joban Line, Keihin Tohoku Line, Shonan Shinjuku Line, Musashino Line, Chuo-Sobu Line and others across Kanto.
Level 2 long-period ground motion was also observed in Tokyo’s 23 wards, as well as Saitama and Chiba prefectures. Long-period ground motion refers to slow, prolonged shaking that can cause high-rise buildings to sway significantly. At Level 2, people may have difficulty standing, and furniture or other objects may move or fall.
Within an hour of the quake, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wrote on X that efforts to confirm the extent of the damage were ongoing and that a liaison office had been established at the Prime Minister’s Office Crisis Management Center. She added that she had issued instructions for officials to provide timely and accurate information to the public.
“To those in the areas where the shaking was strong, I ask that you continue to remain vigilant for the possibility of another earthquake of similar magnitude,” the prime minister said.
More information:
- Detailed information about thelocation of the earthquake, from the Japan Meteorological Agency website
- An explanation of shindo, Japan’s earthquake intensity scale
- A guide to what to do before, during and after an earthquake
- Our portal for disaster-related information
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/08/23/japan/japan-kanto-earthquake-ibaraki/
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