Some tech companies have facilities in the north of Japan and were hit hard by the earthquake and tsunami. According the computer trade publication Channel News, “Among the worst hit is Sony who has already closed down six of their manufacturing facilities – involved in Blu-ray components, lithium-ion batteries and disc production. Also hit are plants owned by Panasonic, Toshiba and Fujitsu.” Channel News also says, “Foreign companies with factories close to the quake’s epicentre include Freescale Semiconductor, which made microcontrollers in a Sendai facility. The facility has been evacuated and currently has no electrical power.”