USAToday.com:  Tokyo - A 7.0 earthquake hit under the sea south of Japan on Sunday, shaking buildings in the capital, but causing no apparent damage or tsunami.  The quake struck near the uninhabited island of Torishima in the Pacific Ocean, about 370 miles south of Tokyo, and its epicenter was about 230 miles below the sea, the Meteorological Agency said. 

USGS:  A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Izu Islands, Japan, on January 1, 2012, at 05:27:54 UTC, at a depth of 348.5 km (216.6 mi).

Commentary:  There is some discrepancy between the USGS information and information obtained from several other sites.  Most reports show a 7.0 quake, while USGS shows 6.8, which is typical for USGS, which sometimes reports less magnitude than other reporting agencies for some reason.  In any event, 6.8 or 7.0, the high magnitude trends continue as we head into 2012; the year the Mayans predicted catastrophic change.  The chart below demonstrates the drastic upsurge in quakes beginning only last year.  Concerning the time of His return, Jesus said, "Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom, there will be famines, pestilences and earthquakes in various places" Matthew 24:7.  
  
Source:  www.dlindquist.com