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I live in Japan and I've never heard of such a regulation, and my cell phones don't have such a feature.

Actually, it's not exactly a hardware feature, it's just an app. After the Tohoku Earthquake in March, many people started using early-warning apps. So yes, it's commonplace.

No such a legal obligation, but all three major careers support the warning system (however Softbank has only few phones that can receive the warning messages).

This system uses a feature defined in 3GPP and probably can be implemented in cellular networks in other countries than Japan. However it may need modifications of the software in the network, it may take several years to be fully deployed.

So the headline could have easily read "Apple complies with Japanese law requiring Earthquake Detection in Phones"

Short of any evidence whatsoever that Apple was selling phones in contravention of Japanese law, or even that such a law exists, such a headline would seem absurd.

It was just a reply to the parent which stated that there was a law. It was not my own claim.