Japan Gov't Warns of Possible Megaquake

Apr 20, 2026 | News On Japan

HOKKAIDO, Apr 20, 2026 (News On Japan) - Japan's weather agency and the Cabinet Office issued a 'Hokkaido-Sanriku Offshore Subsequent Earthquake Advisory' after an earthquake measuring upper 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale struck off Sanriku.

The earthquake occurred at around 4:52 p.m. on April 20 off the coast of Sanriku, with Aomori Prefecture recording the strongest shaking at upper 5 intensity.

Following the quake, the Japan Meteorological Agency temporarily issued tsunami warnings for Iwate Prefecture, the Pacific coast of Aomori Prefecture, and the central Pacific coast of Hokkaido.

At Kuji Port in Iwate Prefecture, an 80-centimeter tsunami was observed at 5:34 p.m. Tide levels continued to fluctuate afterward, while tsunami waves measuring several tens of centimeters were also recorded at other coastal locations in the prefecture.

In Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, an area heavily damaged in the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011, residents were seen evacuating to higher ground under the guidance of employees at a commercial facility.

One evacuee said, 'My heart was pounding as everyone helped me climb up to this park. I think we're safe now, but it's still a little frightening.'

Yugo Masutani, planning official at the Cabinet Office's disaster management division, said there is around a 1% chance of a large-scale earthquake of magnitude 8 or higher occurring within the next week.

The advisory, issued on the night of April 20, warns that the likelihood of a new megaquake of magnitude 8 class or above occurring on the seabed of the Pacific Ocean -- from off Nemuro in Hokkaido to off Sanriku in northeastern Japan -- is higher than usual.

The advisory covers seven prefectures and regions: Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki and Chiba.

The Japan Meteorological Agency and the Cabinet Office urged residents to review earthquake preparedness measures and follow disaster-response guidance issued by the central government and local authorities.

Meanwhile, tsunami warnings that had been in place were downgraded to tsunami advisories for all affected areas.

Separately, an elderly man in his 80s fell in Morioka City during the earthquake and injured his left leg. Authorities said his injuries were not life-threatening.

Source: TBS

New Possible Typhoon Raises Fresh Flooding Concerns Across Japan

A tropical depression is expected to move northward this weekend and could bring another round of heavy rain to parts of Japan, following a week in which Typhoon Jangmi (Typhoon No. 6) caused significant rainfall and left some areas vulnerable to further weather-related damage.

Controversy Erupts Over Prime Minister Takaichi’s Alleged Smear Video

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration is facing mounting scrutiny over allegations that members of her campaign were involved in distributing online videos that disparaged rival candidates during the February House of Representatives election, with opposition parties intensifying their questioning in the Diet and demanding further clarification.

Japan Calls for Next Generation Hunters; Bear Sightings Exceed 50,000

The Japanese government approved its 2026 Environment White Paper at a Cabinet meeting on June 5th, warning that a record-high 50,000-plus bear sightings recorded nationwide during fiscal 2025 have become a serious threat to public safety while also highlighting growing concerns over Japan's aging hunting population and the need to train a new generation of hunters.

28 Typhoons Expected to Hit Japan in 2026

Japan could face a more active typhoon season than usual in 2026, with private weather forecaster Weathernews predicting around 28 typhoons to form during the year—above the long-term average of 25.1—and warning that approximately 14 could approach Japan, increasing the risk of weather-related disruptions across the country.

Mad Bear On The Loose Despite Hit With Tranquilizer

A bear that injured four people in Fukushima City escaped despite efforts to capture it using tranquilizer darts and box traps, prompting authorities to urge residents to remain on high alert.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sci-Tech NEWS

Japan to Replace Up to Five Nuclear Reactors by 2040s

The Japanese government has unveiled a draft target to replace between two and five nuclear reactors by the 2040s, marking the first time numerical goals for nuclear power development have been presented since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster 15 years ago.

Japan's Rare Earths Island

The video explains how a tiny, remote Japanese island called Minami Torishima (Marcus Island) could become one of the most strategically important locations in the world due to enormous deposits of rare earth elements buried in deep-sea mud beneath the Pacific Ocean.

Fukushima Solar Plant Glare Lasts Up to 53 Minutes, Far Exceeding Forecasts

A large solar power facility built on a mountainside in Fukushima City is generating reflected sunlight for far longer than originally projected, with a city survey finding that glare at some locations lasted up to 53 minutes per day—more than ten times the maximum duration predicted by the operator.

Companies Flock to Japan’s Major Space Business Expo

Japan’s largest space business exhibition opened at Tokyo Big Sight on May 27th, showcasing a growing wave of companies from outside the traditional aerospace sector entering the rapidly expanding space industry.

Shizuoka Enters Final Stage of Linear Shinkansen Debate

JR Tokai held its first-ever resident briefing session in Shizuoka City on May 26th regarding construction of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, outlining measures for water resource management and environmental conservation as the company seeks to gain local support ahead of the start of construction in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Mysterious Crab Dance Returns to Wakayama Shoreline

A seasonal spectacle has begun on the Miwasaki coast in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture, where tiny male chigogani crabs are emerging from their burrows at low tide and rhythmically waving their claws in a movement resembling a dance.

Akita Residents Grow Anxious Over Collapsing Wind Turbines

A small onshore wind turbine collapsed in Oga, Akita Prefecture, in March, raising fresh concerns among local residents following a series of wind turbine-related accidents in the city over recent years.

Fugaku NEXT: The Counterattack of Japan's Homegrown Supercomputer

Japan's next-generation homegrown supercomputer, Fugaku NEXT, is being developed with a radically different strategy from its predecessors, abandoning the single-minded pursuit of the world's fastest calculation speed in favor of artificial intelligence capabilities expected to accelerate breakthroughs in fields ranging from drug development and batteries to disaster prevention and food production.

< 2 3 4 5 >