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Japan's industrial output rises 3.9 percent

by AFP

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Japan's industrial production rose 3.9 percent in June from the previous month, reflecting a continued recovery in earthquake-hit supply chains following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The data however missed market expectations of a 4.3 percent gain expected in a survey of economists by Dow Jones Newswires. "Industrial Production is on a recovery trend after the Great East Japan Earthquake," the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a statement. Leading the rise were gains in automobile production and electronics parts and devices, the ministry said, as Japanese companies continued to revive output levels after slashing them in the quake's aftermath. (AFP)

Utilities, LDP long held cozy ties

by Japan Times

The recent findings that current and former power company executives have been making huge political donations to the Liberal Democratic Party since the 1970s show the industry and party have long had cozy ties. The revelations also indicate the difficulties the Democratic Party of Japan-led government faces in persuading the industry to back a new energy policy due to the Fukushima nuclear crisis. During its almost uninterrupted rule of more than 50 years, the LDP based the nation's energy policy on nuclear power. (Japan Times)