The U.S. Geological Survey reports that a strong earthquake has shaken northeastern Japan, the same region devastated by the massive quake and tsunami in March.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, and no tsunami warning was issued.
The U.S.G.S. reports a magnitude of 5.9 quake struck at 3:23 am on Friday local time off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture.
The epicenter was about 11 miles (18 kilometers) east-southeast of Iwaki on Honshu Island, 114 miles (184 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo.
About 23,000 people died or disappeared across Japan's northeast coastline after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Another 80,000 were forced to evacuate because of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant's radiation threat.