High-speed Shinkansen services on the Tohoku and Joetsu lines were suspended on the afternoon of June 8, 2026, following an earthquake that struck eastern Japan. According to Kyodo News, the suspension order was issued immediately to ensure passenger safety and to inspect track infrastructure.
The earthquake occurred at approximately 5:55 p.m. local time. No detailed reports of damage or casualties have been released yet, but authorities are conducting a rapid assessment of the situation.
Earlier on the same day, Japan also recorded small tsunami waves after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake off the coast of the Philippines, but these events are considered unrelated. Work to restore the high-speed train lines is progressing urgently.
