Aomori Quake Causes Parcel Delays, Temporary Store Closures

Tokyo, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–A massive earthquake that mainly hit Aomori Prefecture and other parts of Japan’s Tohoku northeastern region Monday night has caused impacts on local economic activities, such as delays in parcel delivery services and temporary closures of convenience stores. The temblor registered up to upper 6, the second-highest level on the country’s seismic intensity scale, and companies with bases in Tohoku and the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido scrambled to assess possible damage on Tuesday. Yamato Transport Co. said that disruptions in ferry and railway services have led to delays in the arrivals of parcels to and from Hokkaido. Sagawa Express Co. reported similar delays. Japan Post Co., which operates the Yu-Pack brand service, said that deliveries of parcels between Hokkaido as well as some Tohoku areas, and other regions have been delayed by about a day. In response to the Japan Meteorological Agency’s tsunami warnings issued to some areas in Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate Prefecture, part of Tohoku, following the quake, convenience store operator Seven-Eleven Japan Co. suspended operations at up to about 60 stores in the areas to evacuate employees. The stores gradually resumed operations after the warnings were lifted. Industry peer Lawson Inc. temporarily closed some of its stores in Aomori, mainly due to merchandise being scattered on the floor from the temblor. As the meteorological agency issued Tuesday a warning over the possibility of a strong subsequent earthquake striking, the company plans to urge employees to check the locations of evacuation sites and routes. Among manufacturers, Hachinohe Smelting Co., based in the Aomori city of Hachinohe, halted zinc smelting operations after some of its facilities were damaged by the quake. While no one was hurt, it is unclear when the operations will be resumed, according to its parent, Mitsui Kinzoku Co., a major nonferrous metal producer. The temblor’s impact on other manufacturers has been limited. Tokyo Electron Ltd. said that its chipmaking equipment factory in Iwate and another in Miyagi Prefecture, also in Tohoku, are operating normally as the facilities suffered no damage. No damage was confirmed at major chipmaker Kioxia Holdings Corp. plant in Iwate and the Hokkaido plant of Rapidus Corp., which aims to start mass-producing cutting-edge semiconductors. The quake has not impacted operations at plants of Asahi Breweries Ltd. and Kirin Brewery Co. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]