M4.6 Earthquake 42 km ENE of Noda, Japan — May 22, 2026
2026-05-22 16:53:58 UTC (2026-05-22) · approx. 1:53 AM UTC+9 local
Aftershock of the M6.0 mainshock.
On May 22, 2026 at 16:53 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 42 km ENE of Noda, Japan, at a depth of 62.0 km and coordinates 40.2879°, 142.2534°. This earthquake was detected by 61 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 6.0 mainshock that occurred 26 days ago 54 km ENE of Noda, Japan. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 6 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for weeks to months as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
The epicenter is located in Japan, a region characterized by the intersection of four tectonic plates — Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian, and North American — creating multiple subduction zones. The nearest mapped fault system is the Japan Trench. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
142.2534°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Noda, Japan?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 42 km ENE of Noda, Japan on May 22, 2026 at 16:53 UTC had a depth of 62.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 40.2879°, 142.2534°, which is 42 km ENE of Noda, Japan. View all earthquakes in Japan.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M6.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.6 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 6.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 54 km ENE of Noda, Japan. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Has Japan had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Japan was the M9.1 Tohoku earthquake of March 11, 2011. Today's magnitude 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000szjp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 22, 2026). M4.6 Earthquake 42 km ENE of Noda, Japan — May 22, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000szjp/