Why does japan experience earthquakes?

Question

Why does japan experience earthquakes?

Answer 1

because the tectonic plates move much and so earthquakes are generated.

Answer 2

Plate Tectonics and the Formation of Japan. Japan was formed by two events: subduction resulting in volcanic activity and the opening of the Japan Sea. In the case of Japan, the Pacific Plate and the Philippine Plate subduct the eastern border of the Eurasian Plate. However, the eastern edge of the Eurasian Plate is not the edge of a continent. Because of volcanic activity at such junctions, island arcs are formed in the ocean. Japan is actually composed of four (or five) such island arcs formed by volcanic activity where the Pacific Plate and the Philippine Plate subduct the eastern border of the Eurasian Plate. But, Japan was originally a part of the Asian continental mainland and was separated off from it with the opening of the Japan Sea about 15 million years ago. At this time, subduction of the oceanic plates under the continental plates was already underway. It is thought that subduction can create a back arc basin ahead of the subduction zone. The formation of this basin resulted in the opening of the Japan Sea between Japan and the Asian continental mainland. Subduction and its related volcanic activity continued (and still continues) after the opening of the Japan Sea.

Cause and Occurrence of Earthquakes. The same plate tectonic activity that causes volcanoes also causes earthquakes. Subduction can create stress in the rock crust that results in slippage causing earthquakes.

Earthquakes and Faults. As two plates collide, stress is built up and faults (or cracks) appear in the crust. (Active faults of Kyushu, Kanto) If there is little friction along the fault, creep may occur, that is, there may be gradual movement of the ground on one or both sides of the fault. This type of fault activity does not usually result in death or injury, since there are no sudden movements. If, however, friction prevents gradual movement, the stress will built up until sudden slippage occurs along the fault. This is an earthquake. Sometimes, slippage occurs along the subduction zone. These quakes can be rather large ones, like the Indian Ocean earthquake of December 26, 2004 (magnitude 9.0). If the stress occurs in deep crust layers where rock is hot, the crust may gradually fold rather than slip (no earthquake occurs.).

Answer 3

Japan experiences earthquakes because it is on a plate boundary line on the border.