Some Factories Still Not Back on Track in Rain-Hit Western Japan

August 16, 2018

Tokyo- Some factories are still unable to resume full operations in western Japan areas hit by torrential rains about a month ago, due partly to crippled roads, railways and other transport networks.

Mazda Motor Corp. has resumed production at its headquarters plant in Fuchu, Hiroshima Prefecture, and at a plant in Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, but railway services used by the plants' workers for commuting are yet to be fully restored.

The automaker allows affected workers to commute by car, but needs to curb their overtime work at night to prevent traffic jams, which could hamper reconstruction work.

"We aim to minimize the disaster impact on our earnings by making full use of inventories," Mazda Managing Executive Officer Tetsuya Fujimoto said.

Panasonic Corp. has restarted operations at its flooded plant for business-use video cameras in the city of Okayama although its full restoration is not expected until late September, due to the need to repair some production equipment.

Kewpie Corp. has no prospect of resuming production and sales of canned meat sauce and four other products, after its can supplier suffered damage from flooding.

Among supermarkets, Tenmaya Store Co.'s Tenmaya Happy's outlet in the Mabi district in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, is nowhere close to reopening, after it was flooded to the ceiling following the downpour. The store is now mobilizing vehicles to sell products.

The Aeon Co. group's MaxValu store in Mihara, Hiroshima, has set up a makeshift shopping facility within its premises.Jiji Press