Earthquake Offshore Northwest of Hokkaido on January 12
On January 12, 2016 at 02:08 (JST), there was a M6.2 earthquake (maximum seismic intensity 3) at a depth of 265 km offshore northwest of Hokkaido. This event occurred within the Pacific plate. The focal mechanism of this event had a tension axis in an NE-SW direction.
For the seismic activity since October 1997, in the vicinity of the recent event (Area b), there have sometimes been earthquakes of M4.0 or over, such as one (M5.2, maximum seismic intensity 1) on January 22, 2013, but there had been no earthquake of M6.0 or over.
For the seismic activity since January 1923, in the area around the recent event (Area c), there have sometimes been earthquakes of M6.0 or over.
Japan Meteorological Agency
[Evaluation of Seismic Activities for January 2016 (February 9, 2016)]