Abundant evidence indicates that such a new volcano exists at L'ihi, a seamount (or submarine peak) located about 20 miles off the south coast.
In 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake -- one of the worst ever to hit Japan -- killed more than 20,000 people and caused tsunamis of up to 12 meters (40 feet) which swamped the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, triggering a nuclear meltdown. Fukushima resident: We live in fear.
An earthquake measuring upper-5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 shook Aomori Prefecture and other parts of the north on Tuesday afternoon, hours after another temblor triggered a small tsunami. The second instance did not result in a tsunami alert. The quake struck at 1:46 p.m. The Japan Meteorological Agency described it as magnitude 5.7, with an epicenter around 50 km off the coast of Iwate Prefecture and 50 km deep. One of the hardest-hit districts was the town of Hashikami, where upper-5 was recorded.