Regarding Jun Hongo's March 16 article, "One certainty in the crisis: Power will be at a premium": One way Japan might increase the production of electricity is to work a deal with the U.S. government. The U.S. Navy has a ready supply of mobile nuclear power plants that can provide enough electricity to power small cities.
Japan could build a special harbor that connects a docked ship to the power grid. The U.S. government would be entitled to rent income to offset expenses. Even though the U.S. Navy might temporarily lose use of these ships as a military asset, the political, diplomatic and even economic value would be tremendous. It would show the world that the U.S. cares about helping a friend in need while providing the people of Japan with much needed help to stabilize the Japanese economy.
The economic impact of this tragedy is Japan's long-term concern. Stabilizing the economy is in the best interest of United States, Japan and the region. How does one place a monetary value on peace and stability?