Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011, also called Great Sendai Earthquake or Great Tōhoku Earthquake,
Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011: Honshu island coast, March 11, 2011 [Credit: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dylan McCord/U.S. Navy photo]severe natural disaster that occurred in northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. The event began with a powerful earthquake off the northeastern coast of Honshu, Japan’s main island, which caused widespread damage on land and initiated a series of large tsunami waves that devastated many coastal areas of the country, most notably in the Tōhoku region (northeastern Honshu). The tsunami also instigated a major nuclear accident at a power station along the coast.