The trench-trench-trench type triple junction and tectonic evolution of Japan

The topography around the trench-trench-trench triple junction off the Kanto Plain and Neogene tectonic evolution of the Japanese Island Arcs have been examined. The most important factors for the tectonics are the deformations of the subductive boundary around the triple junction for retention of the minimum curvature of subduction of the thick Pacific Plate along an irregular boundary with an uncinate process, created by the retreat of the Izu Trench on the Philippine Sea Plate. The Great Bend of the zonal structure in central Japan, the east-west compressional stress field in the Southwest Japan, and the tectonic evolution of northeast Honshu can be systematically explained with the deformations.publishe