A shallow 7.5 magnitude quake struck offshore Iwate Prefecture at 4:53 p.m. local time, shaking Tokyo and prompting tsunami warnings for three‑meter waves along Iwate, Aomori and Hokkaido. Authorities forecast heights up to 10‑foot waves and ordered evacuations in coastal towns, moving tens of thousands to higher ground.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted on X that residents must stay out of low‑lying areas until officials lift the alerts. The government activated a crisis management centre to coordinate emergency response and disseminate information. Early reports showed no casualties, though videos captured swaying power lines and rattling kitchenware.

Rail service between Tokyo and Aomori was halted, and nuclear plant operators confirmed no abnormalities. The Japan Meteorological Agency, which revised the quake’s magnitude from 7.4 to 7.5, warned that similar shocks could follow within a week. Investors watch the disruption for potential impacts on transport logistics and energy sector stability.