Since the end of last month, nearly 900 small earthquakes have been recorded in the waters off the Tokara Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. On the 2nd alone, five earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or higher occurred.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurred on the 2nd at 3:26 p.m. in waters 297 km south-southwest of Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture. This earthquake resulted in tremors of seismic intensity 5 weak (5-) being detected in some islands including Toshimamuura. The agency noted that there was no tsunami warning associated with the earthquake.
In the Tokara Islands, a total of five earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or higher occurred on this day. At 2:59 p.m., a magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred; at 2:51 p.m., a magnitude 5.1; at 2:25 p.m., a magnitude 5.0; and at 4:32 a.m., a magnitude 5.0.
From the 21st of last month until 10 a.m. on this day, 877 earthquakes with a magnitude of 1 or higher have been recorded in the Tokara Islands. The Tokara Islands experienced over 300 small earthquakes in December 2021 and again in September 2023.
Local Japanese social media is also mentioning the so-called 'Tokara Law,' a superstition suggesting that when earthquakes occur successively in the waters near the Tokara Islands, a major earthquake will follow in another location.
Such rumors are increasing concerns, coinciding with predictions by popular Japanese manga artist Tatsuki Ryo that a major earthquake will occur in southwestern Japan on July 5.