Osaka business leader calls for discussions on relocation of capital

OSAKA, March 18 (Kyodo) - Aka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Shigetaka Sato on Friday called for discussions on the possible relocation of the Japanese capital from Tokyo in response to last week's earthquake that struck northeastern and eastern Japan.
''The matter should be considered from the viewpoint of risk dispersion,'' Sato told a press conference, while urging the government to address the disaster as an emergency situation whose effects would gradually spread to western Japan as well.
Other business leaders at the press conference also voiced their senses of crisis.
Atsushi Kojima, chairman of Ganko Food Service Co., asked the government led by the Democratic Party of Japan to use child allowances and other DPJ policy-based outlays for earthquake reconstruction efforts.
Katsuhiko Machida, chairman of Sharp Corp., expressed concern that the disaster may affect machinery parts supply throughout Japan as parts production capacity has been concentrated in northeastern Japan.
Takeo Higuchi, chairman of Daiwa House Industry Co., said his firm will make utmost efforts to provide housing for disaster survivors.