Explosions at chemical plant in Hyogo Pref.

Explosions at chemical plant in Hyogo Pref.

HIMEJI, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a burning fire engine (L center) at Nippon Shokubai Co.'s chemical plant in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture on Sept. 29, 2012. A firefighter died and dozens of other people were injured after two explosions occurred as firefighters worked to control a fire that broke out at the plant around 2 p.m.

Explosions at chemical plant in Hyogo Pref.

Explosions at chemical plant in Hyogo Pref.

HIMEJI, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows black smoke billowing from Nippon Shokubai Co.'s chemical plant in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture on Sept. 29, 2012. A firefighter died and dozens of other people were injured after two explosions occurred as firefighters worked to control a fire that broke out at the plant around 2 p.m.

Explosions at chemical plant in Hyogo Pref.

Explosions at chemical plant in Hyogo Pref.

HIMEJI, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows flames and black smoke billowing out of Nippon Shokubai Co.'s chemical plant in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture on Sept. 29, 2012. A firefighter died and dozens of other people were injured after two explosions occurred as firefighters worked to control a fire that broke out at the plant around 2 p.m.

Nippon Shokubai, Sumitomo Chemical to swap part of operations

Nippon Shokubai, Sumitomo Chemical to swap part of operations

TOKYO, Japan - Hiromasa Yonekura (L), president of Sumitomo Chemical Co., and Hiroshi Yanagida, president of Nippon Shokubai Co., shake hands at a news conference in Tokyo on Nov. 5. They announced that the two companies have agreed to swap part of their operations to boost competitiveness in their respective markets.

Nippon Shokubai, Sumitomo Chemical to swap part of operations

Nippon Shokubai, Sumitomo Chemical to swap part of operations

TOKYO, Japan - Hiromasa Yonekura (L), president of Sumitomo Chemical Co., and Hiroshi Yanagida, president of Nippon Shokubai Co., shake hands at a news conference in Tokyo on Nov. 5. They announced that the two companies have agreed to swap part of their operations to boost competitiveness in their respective markets.