The Japanese government will launch a national database of food and other goods to enable speedy aid distribution in times of disaster.

The government is drawing lessons from last year's March disaster, when it took considerable time and trouble to secure urgently-needed supplies.

The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry believes the problem occurred due to its poor grasp of commercial stocks of food and daily supplies.

The ministry plans to launch an online system this year to track nationwide inventory, with the cooperation of around 40 distribution firms.

Once in place, local and central governments would be able to quickly assess the size of retailers' stocks by region.

Disaster expert and Kyoto University Professor Haruo Hayashi calls the plan significant.

He says the system will help predict when and where supplies can be shipped, allowing the central and local governments to respond to shortages ahead of time.

Source: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120109_14.html

Image credit: http://www.toledoblade.com/image/2011/03/14/800x600_b1cCM_cC/Japan-disaster-Minamisanriku-road.jpg