The powerful earthquake that hit central Japan on New Year's Day killed at least 30 people, as police and local authorities early on Tuesday reported cases of bodies being pulled from the rubble of collapsed buildings.
The quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck in the middle of the afternoon on Monday, destroying buildings, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes and prompting residents in some coastal areas to flee to higher ground.
It also triggered waves about 1 meter (3.3 ft) high along Japan's long western seaboard as well as in neighboring South Korea.
Army personnel were dispatched to help with rescue operations, while one local airport was shut down after the quake tore open cracks in the runway.
A man in his 90s was pronounced dead after a building collapse in Shika Town in Ishikawa prefecture, broadcaster NTV reported citing local police.