The Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau says foreign tourist to Japan has dropped 75% compared to the same time last year. Blame the ongoing nuclear disaster.
Category Archives: Business/Economics
Japan Air Lines asks employees to take time off without pay
A trend that is picking up steam with Japanese companies, after the March 11 disasters, is to ask employees to take time off without pay. JAL is doing just that.
JAL wants employees to take time off without pay, in May and June. The reason is a huge drop in passengers since March 11. JAL hopes at least 100 employees will take time off during each month.
Toyota Parts employees in United States told to take time off, without pay
I know an employee of the Ontario, California, Toyota North American Parts Center distribution warehouse.
He says they have been ‘requested’ to take “leave without pay”, due to the parts shortage in Japan.
While they are enjoying time with their families they are concerned about how long their time off without pay will last, they can’t go too long without getting paid. Toyota is not certain about when parts will start flowing into the U.S. again.
Even Beer is running out in Japan
Stores are running out of beer.
Sapporo Breweries Ltd. and Asahi Breweries Ltd. each had two beer factories damaged by the March 11 disasters. Kirin Brewery Co. had its Sendai factory in hardest-hit Miyagi Prefecture damaged.
A manufacturer of materials for beer cans is affected as well. Sapporo switched to using bottles only, but then ran out of ingredients for beer.
Honda announces more cut backs
Honda will cut back production in the United Kingdom. Due to lack of parts Honda will reduce production at its Swindon, England, plant by 50%.
Temporary housing for survivors being held up
Japanese home builders are facing the same problems that car makers and electronics industries are facing; lack of parts, lack of power.
Temporary housing is being built for the survivors who lost their homes due to the March 11 tsunami, or those who evacuated the government’s 20km nuclear danger zone.
Contractors say they are running into problems getting the materials needed to complete the mobile homes. Also, they are working without external electrical power supply, and they are running out of fuel for their portable generators.
Contractors say they will do their best for the survivors.
Japan nuke agency had no plans to warn fishermen of contaminated fish
The Japanese Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency admitted that they had no plans to explain the dangers of contaminated fish to the fishing industry. Japanese fishermen have been turned away from fish markets with their entire catch in tow.
The Federation of Fisheries Cooperative said they asked for an explanation of the dangers, but got none. Many fishing companies continued to fish after reports of radioactive contamination in the ocean.
Iwaki city officials, in one of the biggest fishing areas of Japan, say they’ve been waiting for the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency to explain the situation, but, arrogantly the government agency said that they were waiting for the local people to come to them first.
Sounds like the arrogant Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency needs to pull their head out!
Toyota hoping for increased parts supply for Japanese plants
Toyota thinks they might have enough parts built up to open more of its Japanese factories.
Toyota hopes to open more plants, in Japan, by late April. However, they point out that they will not be able to run at full production, and, if parts supplies continue to be a problem then all bets are off.
Japanese Fishermen given Cold Shoulder by Fish Markets
The Japanese fishing industry is demanding compensation from Tokyo Electric, after most fishermen report that ALL their catches are being refused by fish markets. The reason is the high level of radiation in the water, and the fact that sand lances (a type of eel fish) have test positive for cesium-137.
Donations still lag behind Haiti & Katrina, Japanese Red Cross blasted for not handing out money
It might be due to the bad world economy, or the fact that the rest of the World thought Japan was the best prepared for disasters, but donations are still lagging behind the Haiti quake, and Hurricane Katrina.
According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s count, U.S.$161 million has been raised, in the past three weeks. Compare that to the first two weeks after last year’s Haiti quake; $528 million, and Hurricane Katrina; $1 billion.
The Los Angeles Times is also reporting that the Japanese Red Cross is dragging its feet on getting help to people. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano blasted the Japanese Red Cross for not handing out any of the $1 billion they claim to have raised. Edano ordered the Japanese Red Cross to get busy on handing out help this past Sunday.
Is it me, or does it seem that every organization is just one big failure after another, when it comes to dealing with the Japanese disasters?