Kasuga 2 is the central of three volcanoes forming the Kasuga seamount chain, which trends SSW from the volcanic front of the Izu-Marianas arc. It rises from about 3,000 m depth to within 170 m of the ocean surface. Two subsidiary cones are located low on the east flank. The morphology is more complex than Kasuga 1 to the north, and prominent ridges separate slopes of interspersed volcaniclastic and lava flow fields. Radiometric dating indicates an age of less than 8,000 years and probably less than 1,000 years; radium/thorium disequilibrium ratios suggest the flows may be only a few centuries old. Active hydrothermal vents are located at the summit, at the base of summit ridges, and on the lower flanks.