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Japanese photo industry: Earthquake’s impact

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Reports on the Sendai earthquake and tsunami’s effects on the Japanese camera and photographic industry are beginning to be seen more widely in news reports and photography-related sites across the Internet. These should be of interest to NOPA members.

The basic gist of the reports is that while direct damage was limited at photography and camera industry-related facilities, the effect of power outages has been and may continue to be extensive. Delays for the industry supply chain and production are, according to a report from the Adorama photography store, turning out to be greater than expected.

Meanwhile, Nikon has reported one death of an employee at its Sendai plant, and three employees of facilities in Miyagi Prefecture are still missing.

Articles on the effects of the disaster on the industry include the following. The articles below list the effects on companies involved in the camera and photo industry including Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Olympus, Sony, FUJIFILM, Ricoh, Pentax, Sigma, Hoya, Tamron and Epson:

More Than Photo Supply Chain Shaken by Japan Earthquake
— Adorama Learning Center’s TechTock blog

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Camera Industry Update
— Amateur Photographer (UK)

Earthquake cripples Japan’s CE Industry
Earthquake update: Ricoh suspends work at five plants
— Photo & Imaging

How the Earthquake has Impacted the Japanese Camera Industry
— Hardware Zone

Image: Map of the impact on Japan’s camera and photo industry, from Amateur Photographer (UK)