The injuries were reported in and around the city of Hachinohe in Aomori prefecture, near the epicentre of the earthquake, which measured 6.8 on the Richter scale.

"The number of injuries related to the earthquake in the region has now risen to 43," a spokesman for the National Police Department in Tokyo said, adding that all the injuries were not serious.

The tremor struck at 12.26am (1.26am AEST) in Iwate prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. It was centred 120km underground.

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