This earthquake near the east coast of Honshu, Japan occurred as a result of thrust/reverse faulting on or near the subduction zone plate boundary between the Pacific and North American plates. At the latitude of this earthquake, the Pacific plate moves approximately westwards with respect to the North American plate at a rate of 83 mm/yr, and begins its westward descent beneath Japan at the Japan Trench. This earthquake can be considered an aftershock of the March 11, 2011 M9.0 earthquake.
