January 5th, 2026 5:37PM PST

A strong earthquake struck western Japan Tuesday morning, centered in eastern Shimane Prefecture on the island of Honshu. Japan’s official reporting showed the quake occurred at 10:18 a.m. local time on January 6, 2026, measuring magnitude 6.2 at an estimated depth of 10 kilometers.

The shaking reached a maximum seismic intensity of 5+, with strong shaking reported in parts of Tottori and Shimane prefectures, including areas such as Sakaiminato City and Matsue City. The event also triggered Japan’s Earthquake Early Warning system for affected regions.

Japan’s tsunami information feed indicated no tsunami warnings or advisories were in effect at the time of the initial reports, and the quake listing itself noted no tsunami risk.

For readers outside Japan, the country’s “intensity” number is not the same as magnitude. It describes how violent the shaking felt at specific locations. At intensity 5+, official guidance indicates many people find it difficult to walk without holding onto something stable and unsecured furniture may topple.

Officials commonly urge residents to stay alert after a strong quake because additional shaking can follow. After a relatively large earthquake, smaller earthquakes often occur around the same area as aftershocks, especially when the main quake is shallow.

This January 6 quake is the latest M6 plus event to hit Japan in under a month. The USGS recorded a M7.6 offshore earthquake on December 8, 2025 and another M6.7 quake on December 12, 2025, part of a short stretch of elevated seismic activity affecting the region.

This is a developing situation, and updated information is expected as monitoring continues.

Written by SHR Media Staff. Copyright SHR Media 2026.

Sources

• Japan Meteorological Agency, earthquake event details for eastern Shimane Prefecture (time, magnitude, depth, reported maximum intensity)
• Japan Meteorological Agency, tsunami information showing no tsunami warnings or advisories in effect following the quake
• Japan Meteorological Agency, seismic intensity scale guidance for what intensity 5+ means

About the Author

Sack Head Shaun

Administrator

Want to Help Support? Visit Website View All Posts