Last week's powerful earthquakes and numerous aftershocks in southwestern Japan are causing problems far beyond the seismic zone around Kumamoto City on Kyushu.  The ripples are being felt through some of Japan's signature industries.

Toyota shut down most of its factories around the country through 23 April due to parts shortages.  "Decisions regarding recommencement of operation at plants in Japan will be made on the basis of availability of parts," the company said in a statement.  The factories impacted by the quake make the vast array of autos for the overseas markets, particularly the highly lucrative US:  These include everything from the Prius to the upscale Lexus line.  Toyota's only factories remaining open through the parts shortage produce the Century limousine, plus Daihatsu and Hino models for the domestic market.

Nissan experienced a brief slowdown but is back in business.  Honda shut down motorcycle production until Friday.  Mitsubishi closed a production line making micro cars for the domestic market. 

Sony doesn't have a time frame for resuming operations at its Kumamoto semiconductor plant which produces image sensors for digital cameras, security cameras and microdisplays.  The company is still determining the extent of damage to the building.  The company has several other facilities on Kyushu, but all have reopened since the quakes or continued to operate through the disasters.