The agency's website says the temblor hit early Thursday about 176 miles southeast of the city of Kamaishi and more than 200 miles east of Fukushima.
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A massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami caused meltdowns at three reactors in the Fukushima nuclear plant.
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Fewer than 40 reports of people feeling Thursday's quake were registered on the Geological Survey website.
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It comes as Mexico is reeling from a magnitude-7.1 earthquake that collapsed buildings and killed at least 225 people.
Click here for a look at ABC7's coverage of recent quakes.