A strong earthquake hit eastern Japan early on Sunday, 23 August. The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.9 and happened around 2am. Its centre was in southern Ibaraki Prefecture, about 70 kilometres below the surface. The shaking woke many people in Tokyo, Chiba, and Saitama, and some people left their beds as buildings moved in the darkness.

The main reason for the earthquake is that Japan is located near the boundaries of several tectonic plates. This area often has earthquakes because the plates move against each other under the ground.

At least 37 people in five prefectures were injured, with most injuries being minor. There was no tsunami warning, and officials checked nuclear power stations and found no problems. Some trains had delays, and a broken water pipe was reported. Authorities advised people to stay alert for aftershocks.