US-based retail giant Walmart has reopened half of the Seiyu stores it operates in Japan that were forced to close following the recent natural disasters there.
The company operates 371 retail outlets in the country, 24 of which were affected by the March 11 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that devastated the north east of the country.
According to a report by Reuters, two stores were completely covered in mud by the tsunami.
Wal-Mart Asia's vice president of corporate affairs, Anthony Rose, told the news agency the remaining 22 stores continued to operate out of car parks giving away bottled water and other necessities, such as noodles, while continuing to sell some items.
The 12 stores, which reopened on Monday, are based in Sendai City and in a suburb of Sendai. The remaining 12 stores would be reopened as soon as possible, said Mr Rose.
