Japan rocked by powerful earthquake
The quake measured a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 and was the strongest to hit Japan in two years, the nation's meteorological agency said.
However, only five injuries had been reported two hours after it struck and an agency official suggested the impact might have been mitigated by its depth.
The quake was centred 40 miles below the sea floor about 12 miles off the coast of northeastern Miyagi state, according to the agency.
A magnitude 7.0 quake has the potential to cause major damage over a widespread area.
More than 6,000 people were killed in the western city of Kobe when a magnitude 7.2 quake struck there in 1995.
Yesterday's quake was felt across a broad area of the northern part of Japan's main island, sending shoppers rushing out into the street in the city of Sendai and rocking buildings in Tokyo, 260 miles away.
In the hardest hit northeastern areas, two people were injured in Iwate state and three in Miyagi state, said Kenichi Yamasawa, a spokesman for the Fire and Disaster Management Agency in Tokyo.
He said the cause and seriousness of the injuries was under investigation.
Media reports quoted local officials saying three people were slightly hurt in a landslide and a 65-year-old woman was injured in a fire.
Three fires and one landslide were reported in the region, Mr Yamasawa said.
Some areas suffered electricity and water cuts immediately after the quake and highways and railways were closed as officials checked for damage.
Some pedestrians were knocked over in the northeastern city of Sendai, public service broadcaster NHK said.
It showed footage of store shelves that had been emptied by the jolt.
Two people were reportedly trapped in an elevator.
In Tokyo, the two main airports were briefly shut down as officials checked for damage to runways, but they later resumed operation.
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