January 18, 1981 Tsunami: E. Honshu Island, Japan

Name: January 18, 1981 Tsunami: E. Honshu Island, Japan
Start: 1981-01-18
Location: E. Honshu Island, Japan

January 18, 1981 · 0.37 m · Definite tsunami

A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake began at E. Honshu Island, Japan on January 18, 1981 at 18:17:24 UTC. The water rose as high as 0.37 meters. Its effects were recorded at 28 places.

Where the waves reached

The source (white) and every runup with a place, colored by the water height recorded there. A ring is a runup NCEI marks doubtful.

Under 1 m
1 to 3 m
3 to 10 m
10 to 30 m
30 m and more
Height not recorded

Tsunami warnings in force

The tsunami

Date: January 18, 1981, 18:17:24 UTC
Source: E. Honshu Island, Japan
Cause: Earthquake
Earthquake: Magnitude 6.9
Maximum water height: 0.37 m (1.2 ft)
Runups recorded: 28
Tsunami magnitude (Iida): -1.3
Waters: Ocean
How certain: Definite tsunami
Source location: 38.640° N, 142.750° E

The toll

The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this tsunami.

Every runup

Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.

Where	Country	Km from source	Water height, m	Measured by
Ofunato	Japan	96	0.13	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Kamaishi	Japan	102	0.22	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Enoshima	Japan	104	0.1	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Kesennumagyoko	Japan	104	0.15	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Tsukihama	Japan	114	0.22	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Ayukawa	Japan	115	0.07	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Miyako	Japan	130	0.09	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Ishinomaki	Japan	132	0.06	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Sendaishinko	Japan	155	0.06	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Shiogama	Japan	155	0.04	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Matsukawaura	Japan	180	0.05
Soma	Japan	180	0.12	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Somako	Japan	182	0.08	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Hachinohe	Japan	235	0.1	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Onahama	Japan	250	0.08	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Hitachiko	Japan	302	0.11	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Oaraiko	Japan	320	0.1	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Shoya	Japan	379	0.08
Shoyagyoko	Japan	380	0.16	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Urakawa	Japan	392	0.12	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Hiroo	Japan	408	0.06	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Tokachiko	Japan	409	0.07	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Mera	Japan	488	0.06	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Mera	Japan	488	0.08	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Kushiro	Japan	501	0.04	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Hanasaki	Japan	567	0.05	Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Ooarai	Japan		0.09
Souma	Japan		0.09

Every tsunami in 1981 The 1900s Tsunamis of Japan The earthquake This day in weather history Alerts in force

Sources

Tsunami events and runups from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI tsunami event 2126.