Wal-Mart to Open Half of Japan Stores Shut After Earthquake

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, is resuming normal operations at half the stores hampered by Japan’s strongest earthquake as residents struggle to find water, food and other necessities.

A dozen of Wal-Mart’s Seiyu stores in the quake-hit Sendai area are restarting full operations today after being limited mostly to relief efforts for two weeks, Scott Price, Wal-Mart’s Asia chief, said in an interview yesterday. Of the remaining 12 stores, 10 will be opened as soon as possible and two may take a “long time” because they’re covered in mud, he said.