Dual subduction tectonics and plate dynamics of central Japan shown by three-dimensional P-wave anisotropic structure

• We analyze 3D structure of P-wave azimuthal anisotropy beneath central Japan.
• Crust anisotropy has a close relationship with geological structure.
• Segmentation of the PHS slab is shown by a regional variation of the slab anisotropy.
• Mantle anisotropy of the PAC slab is explained by frozen anisotropy.
• A fragment of the PAC slab is suggested by anisotropic structure.

The central Japanese subduction zone is characterized by a complex tectonic setting affected by the dual subduction of oceanic plates and collisions between the island arcs. To better understand of the subduction system, we performed an anisotropic tomography analysis using P-wave arrival times from local earthquakes to determine the three-dimensional structure of P-wave azimuthal anisotropy in the overriding plate and the Pacific and Philippine Sea (PHS) slabs. The principal characteristics of anisotropy in the subducted and subducting plates are (1) in the overriding plate, the distribution pattern of fast direction of crustal anisotropy coincides with that of the strike of geological structure, (2) in the two oceanic plates, fast propagation directions of P-wave were sub-parallel to the directions of seafloor spreading. Additionally, our tomographic images demonstrate that (1) the bottom of the Median Tectonic Line, the longest fault zone in Japan, reaches to the lower crust, and seems to link to the source region of an inter-plate earthquake along the PHS slab, (2) the segmentation of the PHS slab – the Izu Islands arc, the Nishi-Shichito ridge, and the Shikoku basin – due to the formation history, is reflected in the regional variation of anisotropy. The tomographic study further implies that there might be a fragment of the Pacific slab suggested by a previous study beneath the Tokyo metropolitan area. The overall findings strongly indicate that seismic anisotropy analysis provide potentially useful information to understand a subduction zone.