A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off Aomori Prefecture on December 12, following the 7.5 quake that prompted Japan's first megaquake advisory. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory for Hokkaido and Tohoku coasts, with waves up to 1 meter possible, urging people to avoid the ocean amid ongoing regional risks.
On December 12, 2025, at 11:44 a.m., a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurred off Aomori Prefecture's coast at a depth of about 20 km. It registered seismic intensity 4 in parts of Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, and Akita.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory—lower than a warning—for parts of Hokkaido and Tohoku coasts (Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi), expecting waves up to 1 meter between noon and 1:20 p.m. Residents should stay away from the ocean but evacuation is not required.
This follows the magnitude 7.5 quake on December 8 off eastern Aomori, which injured over 30, caused fires and evacuations, and led to the first 'subsequent earthquake advisory' for 182 municipalities, signaling elevated risk of larger events (probability rising to 1% from 0.1%). Vigilance continues in Hokkaido and Tohoku.
Check the Japan Meteorological Agency website for updates.
