Japan’s government says the total cost of the damage caused by the tsunami could reach 25 trillion yen – or U.S. $309 billion.
日本政府说，这次地震海啸造成的经济损失可能高达3千零90亿美元。
Reconstruction could boost economy
Entire towns were wiped out when the wave hit on March 11.
3月11号海啸袭击时，有的城镇被整个夷为平地。
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.
农场、工厂、道路、铁路和输电线路被毁，将近50万民众无家可归。尽管如此，许多日本人希望震后的重建工作能够促进日本经济的发展。
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.
日本政府的估计如果准确，这次地震和海啸将是人类历史上代价最为高昂的自然灾害之一，这次灾难让日本东北部沿海地区受到重创。
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.
这3千零90亿美元的损失计算主要包括受灾最严重的7个县，那里的房屋、企业和基础设施毁坏严重。但这可能只是部分的损失。
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.
东京是世界第三大经济体日本的心脏，也是全球一个金融中心。由于福岛核电站受损，东京这些天接连停电，所造成的经济损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.
日本财务省前国际事务次官、现日本信贷评级机构(Japan Credit Rating Agency)主席内海诚(Makoto Utsumi)说，未来几个月会很艰难。
“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.”
他说：“短期而言，我们面临的挑战当然严峻。日本经济会出现一段负增长，可能延续一到三个季度。但长期而言，我认为震后积极的重建工作，加上政府对经济的刺激措施，会在未来三到四年内加速日本经济的增长，让日本经济受益。”
The tsunami's aftermath is affecting every facet of economic life.
本次海啸让日本经济的方方面面都受到了影响。
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.
市场(Tsukiji-shijo)是世界上最具规模的鱼市和蔬菜批发市场之一。来自日本和世界各地的新鲜产品每天都在这里交易，成交量以万吨计。
The United States and several other countries have banned some Japanese produce imports because of concerns about possible contamination from the nuclear plant.
美国等一些国家因为担心核污染已经开始禁止日本一些新鲜产品的进口。
Stallholders here worry that there could be far wider consequences for their businesses.
这里的摊贩们因此担心，他们生意受到的影响可能还不止这些。
“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.”
这位摊贩说：“不光是福岛，千叶等其他县也受到核辐射的影响。我在这些县都有生意往来，真的很担心。”
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)在批发市场旁边经营一家刀具商店，客人主要是鱼贩。他对未来感到担心。
“I am worried. I don’t think we’ve seen the full effects yet. If customers stop coming, we’ll be in real trouble.”
他说：“我很担心。我认为这次灾难的影响还没有完全显露出来。如果没有客人，麻烦可就大了。”
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.
日本着名的高铁新干线现在恢复了东京到海啸发生的东北地区(Tohoku)之间的营运，东京向北行驶的高速公路也恢复了正常。
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.
由于担心福岛核电站事故会进一步恶化，不少跨国公司都让雇员离开了东京，因此而取消的研讨会、商业洽谈与活动不计其数，游客数量也直线下滑。
Sun will rise again
Growth remains weak – Japan’s economy only recently emerged from recession, in 2009.
日本经济2009年刚刚摆脱了衰退，增长速度现在依然缓慢。
But former Japanese Finance Minister Makoto Utsumi insists this sun will rise once more for the Japanese economy.
但财务省前次官内海诚坚信，日本经济的旭日会再次东升。
“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.
他说：“国家经济的重建不光是地区重建，需要全国共同努力。我认为日本有钱、有技术、有能力、有勇气面对困境，最终会让东北地区和整个国家再放异彩。”
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，日本有能力将本次自然灾难化作经济增长的动力，1980年代的经济奇迹能够再次出现。
With an estimated 25,000 people dead or missing, the human cost of the disaster is tragically clear.
本次地震灾害估计造成2万5千人死亡或失踪，生命代价十分惨重。
It will be many months, if not years before the full extent of the damage to Japan’s economy is known.
灾难对日本经济的破坏程度可能要再过几个月、甚至几年才能全面显现出来。 |