A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck central Japan early on Sunday morning, injuring at least 22 people, shattering shop windows and halting bullet-train services across several prefectures, according to Japanese authorities and local media reports. The tremor, which hit at 1:04 a.m. local time, was felt across a wide swathe of the country, from the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara to the slopes of Mount Fuji.
The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) put the quake's magnitude at 5.7, while the United States Geological Survey measured it at 5.5. No tsunami warning was issued, and no deaths had been reported by Sunday morning. Officials warned, however, that strong aftershocks could follow in the coming days, and urged residents in the worst-hit areas to stay alert.
What happened
The earthquake struck at 1:04 a.m. on Sunday, 8 November (21:04 PKT on Saturday), with its epicentre in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture, at a depth of about 40 kilometres, the JMA said. It was the strongest shaking recorded in the region in years.
On Japan's seven-point seismic intensity scale, the quake registered upper 5 — the second-highest level — in Chita City, Aichi Prefecture. The JMA said it was the first time shaking of that strength had been observed in Aichi since March 1997. An intensity of lower 5 was recorded in parts of Aichi, Shizuoka, Gifu and Nagano prefectures.
At upper 5, most people find it difficult to walk without holding on to something, and unfixed furniture can topple over. At lower 5, objects such as dishes and books can fall from shelves, according to the agency. The tremor was felt across a wide area around Aichi Prefecture, including the city of Hamamatsu, the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara, and Yamanashi Prefecture, where Mount Fuji is located, as well as Gifu.
Injuries and damage
At least 22 people were injured, according to local media reports carried by the Associated Press, with most hurt in falls or while fleeing buildings as the shaking began. Kyodo News independently reported more than 20 people injured in Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures. No fatalities had been reported.
Among the injured were a woman in her 50s in Tokoname City, Aichi, who was taken to hospital with a fractured ankle, and a man in his 40s and a woman in her 80s in Toyota City, who fell and hit their heads, according to NHK. Both were conscious when taken to hospital.
Shop windows shattered and debris was scattered across streets in the affected areas, and people were seen fleeing buildings in the early hours. In Higashiura Town, Aichi Prefecture, officials said water supplies had been cut off in parts of the town and that water was gushing from manholes, NHK reported. Authorities in the quake-struck areas were still collecting information on the full extent of the damage on Sunday morning.
Transport disrupted
Some local train services were suspended and Tokaido Shinkansen bullet trains were delayed between Shizuoka and Gifu-Hashima stations while operators carried out safety checks, Kyodo News reported. The central government set up a liaison office to coordinate the response to the quake.
Smaller aftershocks were reported after the main tremor, and the JMA warned that further strong shaking remained possible. "Residents in areas hit by strong tremors should pay close attention to future seismic activity and rain conditions, as there is a growing risk of falling rocks and landslides," JMA official Ebita Ayataka said at a news conference after the earthquake.
"Residents in areas hit by strong tremors should pay close attention to future seismic activity and rain conditions, as there is a growing risk of falling rocks and landslides." — Ebita Ayataka, Japan Meteorological Agency official, via NHK
No tsunami threat, and no link to the feared Nankai megaquake
No tsunami warning was issued after the quake, and no abnormalities were detected at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka, according to its operator, Chubu Electric Power Co., Kyodo News reported.
The plant sits near the projected source area of a possible Nankai Trough megaquake — the giant offshore earthquake that Japanese scientists have long warned could one day strike the Pacific coast. The JMA said the possibility that Sunday's quake was linked to such a megaquake was "low". At the news conference, Ebita said that while the tremor occurred in the projected epicentre area, it was believed to be different from the anticipated massive earthquake, and that the agency would continue to monitor seismic activity carefully.
Why the Nankai Trough matters: The Nankai Trough is a deep undersea trench off Japan's Pacific coast, where one tectonic plate slides beneath another. Scientists expect a magnitude 8 or 9 earthquake there at some point — the last great quakes on the fault were in 1944 and 1946 — and the government has spent decades preparing coastal communities for it. Sunday's quake was on land, in western Shizuoka, and the JMA assessed it as a separate event.
How strong was the shaking?
| Area | Seismic intensity (JMA scale, 0–7) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Chita City, Aichi | Upper 5 | Hard to walk without support; unfixed furniture may topple |
| Parts of Aichi, Shizuoka, Gifu and Nagano | Lower 5 | Dishes and books fall from shelves |
| Hamamatsu, Kyoto, Nara, Yamanashi, Gifu (wider area) | Felt strongly | Windows shattered; people fled buildings |
What is still uncertain: The injury toll was still being updated on Sunday morning — early reports put it at three, and it later rose to more than 20 as local authorities compiled figures. The final count may change again. The full extent of building damage is also still being assessed, and the JMA has not ruled out further strong shaking.
Frequently asked questions
What do we know so far?
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake (5.5 by the USGS) struck western Shizuoka Prefecture at 1:04 a.m. on Sunday, 8 November, at a depth of about 40 kilometres. It injured at least 22 people, damaged shopfronts and water supplies, and delayed bullet trains. No tsunami warning was issued and no deaths were reported.
What don't we know yet?
The final injury toll and the full extent of damage to buildings and infrastructure are still being compiled by local authorities. It is also not yet known whether the aftershocks the JMA has warned about will reach upper-5 intensity, or how long rail services will take to return to normal.
Was there a tsunami risk?
No. The JMA issued no tsunami warning after the quake, and none was in effect on Sunday morning.
Is this connected to the feared Nankai Trough megaquake?
According to the JMA, the possibility is "low". The quake occurred in the projected epicentre area of a Nankai Trough event, but officials said it was believed to be a different, separate earthquake, and they will keep monitoring the fault closely.
What should people in the area do now?
The JMA has urged residents in areas that shook strongly to brace for possible further strong quakes over the coming week — especially the next two to three days — and to watch for falling rocks and landslides, particularly if it rains.
Key takeaways
- A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck western Shizuoka Prefecture at 1:04 a.m. on Sunday, the strongest shaking in Aichi in nearly 30 years.
- At least 22 people were injured, according to local media; no deaths were reported.
- Shop windows shattered, water supplies were cut in parts of Aichi, and Tokaido Shinkansen services were delayed for safety checks.
- No tsunami warning was issued, the Hamaoka nuclear plant reported no abnormalities, and the JMA says a link to a Nankai Trough megaquake is unlikely.
- Officials warn of possible further strong shaking, around upper 5, over the coming week.
What to watch next
Attention now turns to the JMA's aftershock warnings and to the updated injury and damage figures from Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures. Rail operators are expected to confirm when Tokaido Shinkansen and local services return to their normal timetables, and the central government's liaison office will coordinate any further response if the damage proves worse than first assessed. This article will be updated as confirmed figures arrive.
