Japan’s government says the total cost of the damage caused by the tsunami could reach 25 trillion yen – or U.S. $309 billion.

　　日本政府說，這次地震海嘯造成的經濟損失可能高達3千零90億美元。

　　Reconstruction could boost economy

　　Entire towns were wiped out when the wave hit on March 11.

　　3月11號海嘯襲擊時，有的城鎮被整個夷為平地。

　　Farms, factories, roads, railways and electricity lines were destroyed, while almost half a million people have been made homeless. Despite the destruction, many Japanese people hope the reconstruction effort might turn out to help the Japanese economy.

　　農場、工廠、道路、鐵路和輸電線路被毀，將近50萬民眾無家可歸。盡管如此，許多日本人希望震后的重建工作能夠促進日本經濟的發展。

　　If the government’s estimate proves correct, it would make the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast of Japan one of the costliest natural disasters in history.

　　日本政府的估計如果準確，這次地震和海嘯將是人類歷史上代價最為高昂的自然災害之一，這次災難讓日本東北部沿海地區受到重創。

　　The predicted cost – up to US $309 billion – includes the destruction to housing, businesses and infrastructure in the seven worst-hit prefectures. But that may only be part of the story.

　　這3千零90億美元的損失計算主要包括受災最嚴重的7個縣，那里的房屋、企業和基礎設施毀壞嚴重。但這可能只是部分的損失。

　　Tokyo is the beating heart of the world’s third-largest economy. This global financial hub is enduring rolling blackouts because of damage to the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The business costs of the power disruptions are not counted in this estimate.

　　東京是世界第三大經濟體日本的心臟，也是全球一個金融中心。由于福島核電站受損，東京這些天接連停電，所造成的經濟損失并不包括在日本政府的估算之中。

　　All facets' of economic life affected

　　Former Japanese finance minister Makoto Utsumi – now president of the Japan Credit Rating Agency – says the coming months will be tough.

　　日本財務省前國際事務次官、現日本信貸評級機構(Japan Credit Rating Agency)主席內海誠(Makoto Utsumi)說，未來幾個月會很艱難。

　　“As far as the short term is concerned, of course we have a serious challenge before us,” Utsumi said. “So probably we would suffer one, two or three quarters of negative growth. But in the long term I believe this will be good for the Japanese economy, through the active reconstruction, the stimulus for the economy, would push up our growth for the coming 3 or 4 years.”

　　他說：“短期而言，我們面臨的挑戰當然嚴峻。日本經濟會出現一段負增長，可能延續一到三個季度。但長期而言，我認為震后積極的重建工作，加上政府對經濟的刺激措施，會在未來三到四年內加速日本經濟的增長，讓日本經濟受益。”

　　The tsunami's aftermath is affecting every facet of economic life.

　　本次海嘯讓日本經濟的方方面面都受到了影響。

　　Tokyo’s Tsukiji-shijo is one of the largest fish and vegetable markets in the world. Every day tens of thousands of tons of produce from Japan and around the world are traded in these vast warehouses.

　　市場(Tsukiji-shijo)是世界上最具規模的魚市和蔬菜批發市場之一。來自日本和世界各地的新鮮產品每天都在這里交易，成交量以萬噸計。

　　The United States and several other countries have banned some Japanese produce imports because of concerns about possible contamination from the nuclear plant.

　　美國等一些國家因為擔心核污染已經開始禁止日本一些新鮮產品的進口。

　　Stallholders here worry that there could be far wider consequences for their businesses.

　　這里的攤販們因此擔心，他們生意受到的影響可能還不止這些。

　　“It’s not just Fukushima. Other places like Chiba [next to Tokyo] and other prefectures are affected by the radiation, places where I do business. I’m really worried.”

　　這位攤販說：“不光是福島，千葉等其他縣也受到核輻射的影響。我在這些縣都有生意往來，真的很擔心。”

　　International companies fleeing Tokyo

　　On the edge of the market, Hiro Masamoto runs a knife store catering to the fish traders. He is concerned about the future.

　　松本宏幸(Hiro Masamoto)在批發市場旁邊經營一家刀具商店，客人主要是魚販。他對未來感到擔心。

　　“I am worried. I don’t think we’ve seen the full effects yet. If customers stop coming, we’ll be in real trouble.”

　　他說：“我很擔心。我認為這次災難的影響還沒有完全顯露出來。如果沒有客人，麻煩可就大了。”

　　Japan’s famous bullet trains are once again running from the capital to the tsunami-hit Tohoku region. Freeways heading north are opening up again to normal traffic.

　　日本著名的高鐵新干線現在恢復了東京到海嘯發生的東北地區(Tohoku)之間的營運，東京向北行駛的高速公路也恢復了正常。

　　But many international companies have moved staff out of Tokyo, fearing a potential catastrophe at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Countless seminars, meetings and events have been cancelled. Tourist numbers have plummeted.

　　由于擔心福島核電站事故會進一步惡化，不少跨國公司都讓雇員離開了東京，因此而取消的研討會、商業洽談與活動不計其數，游客數量也直線下滑。

　　Sun will rise again

　　Growth remains weak – Japan’s economy only recently emerged from recession, in 2009.

　　日本經濟2009年剛剛擺脫了衰退，增長速度現在依然緩慢。

　　But former Japanese Finance Minister Makoto Utsumi insists this sun will rise once more for the Japanese economy.

　　但財務省前次官內海誠堅信，日本經濟的旭日會再次東升。

　　“For the reconstruction of our economy, not only regional reconstruction but national reconstruction, I think we have money, we have know-how, we have technology, capability, and we have the courage to face these difficulties and finally we will succeed in making the region and the country brilliant again,” Utsumi said.

　　他說：“國家經濟的重建不光是地區重建，需要全國共同努力。我認為日本有錢、有技術、有能力、有勇氣面對困境，最終會讓東北地區和整個國家再放異彩。”

　　Like Utsumi, many Japanese are determined that their country can repeat the economic miracle of the 1980s – this time turning catastrophe into growth.

　　很多日本人也深信，日本有能力將本次自然災難化作經濟增長的動力，1980年代的經濟奇跡能夠再次出現。

　　With an estimated 25,000 people dead or missing, the human cost of the disaster is tragically clear.

　　本次地震災害估計造成2萬5千人死亡或失蹤，生命代價十分慘重。

　　It will be many months, if not years before the full extent of the damage to Japan’s economy is known.

　　災難對日本經濟的破壞程度可能要再過幾個月、甚至幾年才能全面顯現出來。

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