TOKYO - An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale hit western Japan on Monday but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, officials said.
The quake occurred at 11:52 am (0252 GMT) off the coast of Saeki on the western island of Kyushu, 800 kilometers (500 miles) southwest of Tokyo, the meteorological agency said.
There was no risk of tsunami waves, the agency said.
"We have received no reports (of injuries or damage) yet," a spokesman for the local police said, adding they were still collecting information.
Japan, which lies at the junction of four tectonic plates, has about 20 percent of the world's powerful earthquakes, frequently jolting Tokyo and other major cities.
03/27/2006 03:12 GMT