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.
What kind of plants and animals are found in Japan? Go to the Q & A section of our page on Nature and Climate. Where are earthquake fault lines located in Japan? For information about earthquakes in Japan, go to Why is Japan prone to earthquakes? How many earthquakes has Japan had? Each year countless earthquakes occur in Japan, but most are so small that they can't be felt. Over the last century, Japan has experienced 23 earthquakes that have caused major damage, one of the biggest being the Great Hanshin Earthquake that occurred in Kobe in 1995. The most devastating earthquake in modern times was the great Tokyo Earthquake of 1923, in which 100,000 died.