Japanese leader urges people to unite, rebuild

Prime Minister Naoto Kan told a national television address on Friday that, "We will rebuild Japan from scratch. We must all share this resolve."

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan. File photo: AP.

Japan’s prime minister is calling on all the nations to unite in rebuilding the country from scratch.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan told a national television address on Friday that, “We will rebuild Japan from scratch. We must all share this resolve.”

Mr. Kan exhorted all Japanese not to be discouraged and to carry on with working hard, just as they have rebuilt Japan in the past. He said the massive earthquake and tsunami disaster and ensuing nuclear crisis were a “great test for the Japanese people.”