Why does Japan suffer from earthquakes?

Answer 1

The Earth is covered with tectonic "plates", partial shells of rock. As heat is distributed from the Earth's core, it moves the plates around very slowly. But the plates stick together around the edges, and as forces build up, the plates jerk or lurch across the Earth's mantle. We call this an "earthquake".

The Japan plate touches the Pacific plate, and over the last 100 years or so, considerable stress built up along the boundaries. On March 11, 2011, much of the stress was relieved as the Pacific plate rode underneath the Japan plate. The movement of the Earth was significant, but the jolt caused a movement in the ocean, called a "tsunami". The tsunami is what caused most of the damage and deaths. As of March 20, 2011, the official death toll is over 8,000, but there are about 15,000 people still missing.

Most areas of the Earth are subject to occasional earthquakes, especially around the edges of the Pacific plate. Because of the frequency of earthquakes and volcanoes, this is sometimes called the "Ring of Fire". Within the past year, in addition to the March 11 quake, major earthquakes have occurred in New Zealand and Chile.

Answer 2

The tectonic plate moved, releasing strain that had accumulated for hundreds of years. In the ocean off the NE coast of Honshu, the Pacific Plate is subducting under the continental plate, which is defined either as the Okhotsk Plate (North American Plate) or the Philippine Plate, which borders to the south. The movement of these plates is not continuous, but in sudden spurts (earthquakes).

The earthquake hit the Pacific Ocean nearby northeastern Japan at around 2:46 PM (JST) on March 11, 2011, causing major damage and loss of life with blackouts, fires and tsunami. Over 10,000 people have died

Answer 3

Japan sits at the junction of four tectonic plates, making it highly prone to seismic activity. The Pacific Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate, resulting in frequent earthquakes in the region. Additionally, Japan lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for its high volcanic and seismic activity.

Answer 4

Japan has many earthquakes because it is position in the Pacific Ring of Fire. Japan also has many volcanoes and are prone to tsunamis.

Answer 5

The plates moved so this can occur the earthquake.

Answer 6

There tectonic plates moved side by side causing the ground to shake :) it is called a conservative plate boundry :)