Japan earthquakes

M5.9 earthquake 58 km E of ?hara, Japan

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck 58 km E of ?hara, Japan on Fri, Apr 7, 1978, 8:29 AM JST (23:29 UTC), 31 km (19 mi) below the surface.

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Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

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The earthquake

Magnitude: 5.9 (ms), moderate
Local time: Fri, Apr 7, 1978, 8:29 AM JST
UTC: 1978-04-06 23:29:52 UTC
Depth: 31.0 km (19.3 mi), shallow
Epicenter: 35.212° N, 141.031° E
Region: Japan
Strongest shaking: IV, light shaking
Tsunami flag: No
Status: Reviewed by a seismologist

Shaking

The USGS ShakeMap: shaking estimated from seismic stations and the quake’s size, on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.

Strongest estimated: IV, light shaking
Peak ground acceleration: 3.2% of gravity
Peak ground velocity: 1.1 cm/s
Map: Automatic

USGS ShakeMap: estimated shaking intensity around the epicenter — Estimated shaking intensity. Map: USGS ShakeMap.

Did you feel it?

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

How well it is located

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Stations used: 224

Nearest places

Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.

Nearby

Within 100 km, magnitude 2.5 and up: 8 in the 60 days after this one and 7 in the 30 days before it.

After

Before

Earthquakes today Japan earthquakes Live radar here

Sources

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event usp0000tyb (also filed as gcmtb040678a, gcmt19780406232952, iscgem683404). Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 6:16 AM UTC.