TOKYO (Reuters) - A strong earthquake measuring 6.8 on the open-ended Richter scale shook western Japan on Sunday and tsunami warnings were issued, broadcaster NHK reported.
NHK said a tsunami measuring 20 inches had already reached the Wakayama region, south of Osaka, and people were being warned to stay away from coastal areas.

There were no immediate reports of damage from the quake, which occurred at 6 a.m. EDT, although a woman in the city of Kyoto suffered head injuries in a fall, the national broadcaster said.

The strongest tremors were felt around Nara, the ancient capital of Japan where there are many temples. The quake was felt in Tokyo, 240 miles to the east.

Apart from tourism at Nara, most of the affected area relies on fishing and agriculture.

The focus of the quake, which measured five on the Japanese intensity scale of seven, was in the seabed off the Kii Peninsula about 300 miles southwest of Tokyo at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Japan is one of the world's most seismically active areas, with an earthquake occurring every five minutes.

The country accounts for about 20 percent of the world's earthquakes of Richter magnitude six or greater.

Memories are still vivid of the earthquake in the western city of Kobe in 1995 which killed more than 6,400 people. That quake measured 7.2 on the Richter scale.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?t...storyID=6152684

Well, I glad I don't live in Japan or Taiwan.. two earth quake prone regions

Meh. If it isnt earth quakes it's hurricanes.

I heard about this... sucks bad that Japan is a target for earthquakes... Isn't there some sort of hurricane that's supposed to hit Japan too?

Unlike Omugo's response, the earthquake was fricken scary, and to make matters worse, a big typhoon has just hit Japan.
It kinda sucks during this season. You can't set foot outside.

wow another one in Japan! Geez this is shocking, but when i think about it, Japan has always got Earthquake, so i guess it just a natural thing. But it's sad to know that so many innocent people got hurt...

Yeah there has been a big storm every week so far....