It caused an estimated 8,000 fatalities and damaged 10,000 houses across the prefectures of Toyama, Hyōgo, Kyōto, Osaka, Nara, Mie, Aichi, Gifu, Fukui, Ishikawa and Shizuoka.

While a large component of the convergence is accommodated by subduction along the Nankai and Japan Trenches, shallow intraplate deformation occur as well.

[6][7] Present data suggest seismicity on the fault is low, with long recurrence intervals between major earthquakes of ~1,800 years.

[7] The suggested epicenter is located near the northwest part of Gifu Prefecture, based on analyzing the damage distribution.

Additional surveys and drilling found that the Yōrō-Kuwana-Yokkaichi Fault Zone to the west of the Nōbi Plain may have also ruptured, and corresponds to reports of severe damage in the vicinity.

Evidence of faults was further supported by the presence of vertical displacements reflected in the sedimentary layers of the plain.

The fault zone was also responsible for an earthquake in 745 AD (ja), and ten additional events within the past 6,000 years.

Fold scarps measuring up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high formed during the event was discovered to have extended 60 km (37 mi) in length.

[5] A wave was reported along the coast of Lake Biwa, slamming into homes and washing away many residents in Nagahama.

[23] A 2015 study found tsunami deposits in a paddy field in Ōi District, Fukui Prefecture dating to between the 14th and 16th centuries which corresponds to the event.

[29] Historical records support the occurrence of a tsunami along the Sanriku coast in June 1585,[29] which has been attributed to a large earthquake in the Aleutian Islands.

[37] At the time, Toyotomi Hideyoshi was preparing for war against Tokugawa Ieyasu, who refused to submit to his authority.

After Hideyoshi's death, Ieyasu seized power and established the Tokugawa shogunate, which lasted for 260 years.