temporary housing and other services to bridge the gap in the meantime.” Clearing the site before rebuilding can

start is a mammoth task. It is thought the debris that needs to be cleared from the region worst affected by the tsunami is equivalent to half of Japan’s annual refuse – the amount of rubbish a population of 127m produces in six months.

London-based Charles Kendall, a

specialist in supply-chain management in aid reconstruction and development, is in discussions with a UK provider of temporary housing and a waste- management technology company that processes rubbish into fuel, with a view to introducing the service into Japan. CK Mondiale, its Asian affi liate, has also been instrumental in airlifting 380 tonnes of relief cargoes to Japan. Radiological equipment to measure

levels of radiation is another area of demand. There have been strict checks on food by the authorities, but farmers also want to check their produce before sending it to market. Imported food and drink have also

seen a rise. British confectionery and biscuits have always been popular with Japanese consumers, and supermarkets are carrying a wider range of imported products. Moreover, with recent power shortages, households are rethinking energy use, accelerating demand for low-carbon technologies.

BRITISH CONFECTIONERY AND BISCUITS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN POPULAR WITH JAPANESE CONSUMERS, AND SUPERMARKETS ARE CARRYING A WIDER RANGE OF IMPORTED PRODUCTS

Contingency and business continuity

planning have a new emphasis in Japan since the disaster, presenting opportunities for UK companies. Life sciences, medical devices and products or services catering to an ageing population also have strong potential in this region. The government is considering designating the affected area as a model zone for healthcare and welfare, refl ecting the high proportion of elderly people who live there. More generally, Japan has one of the world’s fastest ageing populations, with 21 per cent of people already over 65, expected to rise to 38 per cent by 2045.

A LOYAL FRIEND The Japanese are particularly appreciative of organisations that have shown loyalty and friendship during the recent catastrophes. The British Embassy, for example, mounted a 24-hour emergency response service and the UK’s chief scientifi c offi cer, Professor John Beddington, gave regular briefi ngs to the British community living in Japan on events at the Fukushima nuclear plant. The Japanese government was grateful for these briefi ngs, which it considered gave balanced advice in a calm manner. Business consultancy McKinney Rogers

International has operated in Japan since 2005 and remains steadfast in its

THE JAPANESE ARE PARTICULARLY APPRECIATIVE OF ORGANISATIONS THAT HAVE SHOWN LOYALTY AND FRIENDSHIP DURING THE RECENT CATASTROPHES

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