TOKYO, Dec 9 (Reuters) - An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 hit near a string of islands in southern Japan on Thursday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The epicentre of the 20 km-deep quake was in the waters near the Tokara Islands in Kagoshima prefecture, JMA said, adding there was no danger of a tsunami. The tremor registered a 5-plus on Japan"s 1-7 intensity scale in some areas.(The story refiles to remove NHK from attribution in headline.)