In September 2004, two strong earthquakes — one measuring 6.9 and other 7.3 on the Richter scale — hit western Japan within hours of each other, injuring 14 people, shaking buildings in Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo.
Damage was minimal because both were off the coast of sparsely-populated Wakayama Prefecture.
In July 2005, an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck the Kanto region, injuring 22 in Tokyo and Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama prefectures near Tokyo. It was the strongest quake in the area since 1992.
The quake affected train service. Some people were trapped in elevators.
A steel tower was toppled in Edogawa Ward in Tokyo.
The people that were injured were mostly hurt by falling signs and pachinko machines.
In April 2005, an earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures near Tokyo.
The quake affected train service. Some homes lost power. No one was killed or seriously injured.
In August 2009, an earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale rocked Hachijojima Island, 280 kilometers south of Tokyo.
There was no tsunami an no reports of injuries