TOKYO, Jan. 27 (UPI) — Soaring fuel imports in the aftermath of Japan’s 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, amid a weaker yen, have contributed to the country’s record annual trade deficit, a government official said. Japan Monday reported a trade deficit of $112.07 billion in 2013, up 65.3 percent from the previous year. “Energy imports have been rising significantly since the nuclear accident,” causing per capita costs of around $293 in Japan, Kyodo News quoted Yoshihide Suga, chief Cabinet secretary as telling reporters. “It is important for us to ease such a burden as much as possible.” All 50 of Japan’s working reactors currently remain offline, pending safety checks. Japan relies on imports for more than 90 percent of its energy needs. Imports of liquefied natural gas to Japan last year rose 17.5 percent and imports of crude oil rose 16.3 percent. With those import costs expected to grow, amid […]