What kind of volcano is Kirishima?

Kirishima is classified as a Shield volcano in Japan. Its tectonic setting is Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km).

How is seismicity near Kirishima monitored here?

Earthquakes within 50 km of the crater are aggregated from 18 seismic networks and checked against a swarm rule that compares the current rate with this volcano's own 30-day background. Ash advisories come from the VAAC centres that are connected.

Volcano Dossier•GVP #282090

31.93°N, 130.86°E

Erupted since 2000

Japan→

Volcano Kirishima

A cluster of more than twenty volcanoes on the border of Miyazaki and Kagoshima in southern Kyushu. Its Shinmoedake crater erupted explosively in 2011 and 2018, filling with lava and dusting farms and towns with ash, and it became active again in 2025.

Last eruption

2025

Erupted since 2000

Summit

1.7 km

Shield volcano · Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Activity

Normal Baseline

0 events (1.0x rate)

Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map

Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.

Live camera: Kirishima

Third-party livestream. The view may be dark at night, hidden by cloud, or temporarily offline.

Source: KYT Kagoshima Yomiuri TVOpen on YouTube

Recent seismicity within 50 km

0 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.

Time	Magnitude	Epicenter / Place	Distance	Depth
13d ago	M2.6	71 km NE of Kagoshima (Japan)	23 km	0 km
24d ago	M2.8	宮崎県北部平野部, Japan	45 km	60 km

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Shield volcano

Kirishima is an active Shield volcano formed in an active Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km). Dominant lithology: Andesite / Basaltic Andesite.

Edifice TypeShield volcano

Major rockAndesite / Basaltic Andesite

TectonicsSubduction zone

Volcanic ArcRyukyu Volcanic Arc

Volcano Dossier

VN #282090

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

CountryJapan

Crater Coordinates31.934°, 130.862°

Summit1.7 km

SubregionRyukyu Volcanic Arc

Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#282090)

Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure

All 18 Networks & VAAC →

Seismic ObservatoryJMA

Japan Meteorological Agency (Volcano Observation)

Official Portal

ICAO Aviation Ash Center

Tokyo VAAC (JMA)

Tokyo, Japan

VAAC Advisory Desk

Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →

Regional Seismic Profile

Japan

Explore live seismic monitoring, historical danger benchmarks, fault slip models and recurrence intervals for Japan.

Earthquakes in Japan →

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols

The most recent eruption of Kirishima recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2025.

Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile