Economic analysts posit that ultimately, the catastrophe will improve Japan's economy, with increased job availability during restoration efforts. David Hensley of JPMorgan Chase, citing the 1989 San Francisco earthquake and the 1994 Northridge earthquake, noted that natural disasters "do eventually boost output".

Takuji Okubo of Société Générale anticipated that Japan's economy will decline in March but will revive powerfully in the next months. He recalled that in January 1995 after the Kobe earthquake, industrial output dropped 2.6%, but in the next two months, it increased 2.2% and 1%, respectively. Japan's economy then accelerated substantially through the next two years, more than its former rate.

Despite these optimistic long-term predictions, the quake has had significant impacts on business. Toyota has had to temporarily close three factories in the affected region, and Nissan has had to extinguish fires at two of its factories. The Bank of Japan has set up an emergency task force to ensure liquidity in the aftermath of the disaster.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_earthquake_2011#Nuclear_power_plants

Economic impact of 2011 Sendai earthquake and tsunami