Powerful quake rocks Tokyo region on New Year's Day

January 1, 2012

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Agence France-Presse

TOKYO — A major 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked Tokyo Sunday as Emperor Akihito

led Japan's New Year celebrations by urging people to work together in

rebuilding the nation from March's quake-tsunami disaster.

The tremor struck at 2:28pm with its focus deep at about 370 kilometres, Japan's

Meteorological Agency said. The U.S. Geological Survey put the depth at 348

kilometres.

Its epicentre was located near Torishima, a northwestern Pacific island about

560 kilometres south of Tokyo.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injury and no tsunami warning was

issued.

The mid-afternoon quake swayed buildings in Tokyo and surrounding areas but it

did not disrupt the final of the Emperor's Cup football tournament under way at

the National Stadium.

" Some people, who were walking, did not seem to notice the quake, " a spokesman

for Tokyo Disneyland said, adding business went on as usual at the theme park

after some rides were automatically shut down.

He did not give the number of visitors on the day but estimated it at several

tens of thousands.

Train runs and airline flights in and around the capital area were not affected.

A 9.0-magnitude quake and monster tsunami ravaged the country's northeast on

March 11, killing more than 19,000 people, and crippled a nuclear power plant

which has been since leaking radiation into the environment.

In a New Year message, Emperor Akihito said: " Our country is now going through

difficult times because of the earthquake and other factors. "

" But I hope that the people's hearts will always be with the afflicted, and that

everyone will persevere and work together to build a brighter tomorrow. "

Wishes for the nation's recovery appeared to have dominated as the new year

started in Japan with tens of thousands of people flocking to Shinto shrines and

Buddhist temples to offer money and pray for good fortune.

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