[ Nippon Keidanren ] [ Policy ]
(Tentative Translation)

Urgent Appeal for an Early Recovery and Restoration
from the Unprecedented Earthquake Disaster


March 16, 2011
Nippon Keidanren

Nippon Keidanren announced an urgent appeal for an early recovery and restoration from the damages afflicted by the March 11 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. In the appeal, Keidanren has urged the government to conduct expeditiously search and rescue operations and provide support for the afflicted areas and recover and restore the people's living conditions and regions' infrastructures as quickly as possible. At the same time, Keidanren pledged the business community's full cooperation in raising relief funds, collecting and delivering relief goods and restraints of use of electric power.


The Great Eastern Japan Earthquake caused damage beyond imagination. All citizens must join forces in a collective effort to rescue lives, support the afflicted areas and restore livelihood and the economy.

Now is the time for political leadership.

Keidanren calls on the Japanese government to do everything in their strength to bring about an earliest possible restoration. We request that all political parties cooperate to appropriately and swiftly implement measures to overcome the national crisis.

The business community will cooperate in electricity conservation and rolling blackouts, and make every effort towards supporting the afflicted areas as well as backing disaster responses and recovery measures.

In order for these efforts to be smoothly executed, we strongly urge that a command center with a powerful chain of command be established with the capability of information gathering and distribution.

1. Call on the Japanese Government

Different kinds of measures will be needed in the short-, medium- and long-term, but as for the immediate actions which need to be taken, we list the following.

(1) Rescue efforts and assistance of afflicted areas

  1. Intensive efforts to rescue lives and search for the missing
  2. A swift establishment of a system for transporting daily necessities (including fuel, water, food and pharmaceuticals) and preparation of a system and entryway for private sector support (such as making greater use of the Self-Defense Force and promptly issuing comprehensive entry permits for private transport vehicles).
  3. Accurate and swift information provision, medical assistance and psychological care.

(2) Rebuilding livelihood

  1. Assisting the ensuring and stabilizing of lifelines (electricity, gas, communication, waterways, logistics, etc.).
  2. Early restoration of transport infrastructure (railways, roads, airports, harbors, etc.)
  3. Ensuring temporary housing the early restoration of medical and educational facilities.
  4. Reduction of or exemption from income tax, resident tax, property tax and so forth for those affected.
  5. Appropriate allocation of donated money.

(3) Recovery of regional and economic infrastructure

  1. Emergency support, maintenance and creation of jobs.
  2. Assistance (including financial aid) of businesses including farmers and fishermen.
  3. Large-scale increase of public work spending in the afflicted areas.
  4. Easing corporate tax on affected companies, establishing a system of refunding earthquake losses, reduction and exemption from property tax, etc.

There is also a need to foresee a supplementary budget, which will be needed in the future, and take measures to appropriately deal with matters including securing sources of funding.

2. Response of the Business Community

  1. (1) Contributing donations and relief goods, and cooperating with NPOs, volunteers, etc., in assistance of the afflicted areas (through provision of facilities, materials, know-how, information, etc.)
  2. (2) Continuation or quick resumption of business and ensuring safe behavior.
  3. (3) Full cooperation towards saving electricity (shifting of production, establishing appropriate electric supply systems for the industrial and home sectors and responding accordingly).

Home Page in English