Japanese firms rush to resume production as earthquake disrupts local economy

Japanese manufacturers rushed to resume production four days after a magnitude 7.6 earthquake killed at least 94 and disrupted infrastructures in the country’s west coast, as businesses were returning from gloomy New Year holidays.
Industry Minister Ken Saito said, about 80% of 200 companies with plants in the quake-hit areas, including makers of machines, semiconductors and textiles, have resumed production or would resume soon following the quake.
But the government cannot picture a clear timeline for the recovery of the region’s power supply, Saito added. Roughly 24,000 buildings in Ishikawa, the hardest-hit prefecture where the quake’s epicentre is located, are still out of electricity, according to Hokuriku Electric Power.
Electronic parts supplier Murata Manufacturing on Friday said it was examining the damage at five plants in Ishikawa and neighbouring Toyama, while eight other plants in the region have resumed production or would do so by Tuesday.