With donations of more than 2.9 billion yen ($31 million) each, the United States and Taiwan ranked as the first- and second-largest overseas donors to the Japanese Red Cross Society following the earthquake and tsunami two years ago.
With donations of more than 2.9 billion yen ($31 million) each, the United States and Taiwan ranked as the first- and second-largest overseas donors to the Japanese Red Cross Society following the earthquake and tsunami two years ago.
Overall, the Japanese Red Cross Society said it received a total of 22.7 billion yen from 179 countries and regions as of the end of 2012.
The figures cover only donations made to support victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and do not include those for the society's activities. The donations are channeled through local governments.
Japan and Taiwan have no diplomatic relations. But the Japanese government treated a representative from Taiwan equally with officials from other countries at a ceremony commemorating the second anniversary of the disaster on March 11.
"We received an enormous amount of donations from Taiwan," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said with appreciation.
China was the fifth-largest donor at 900 million yen. With donations from Hong Kong included, China's donations came to 1.6 billion yen, which exceeds the fourth-ranked Oman.
The donors include developing nations.
The Red Cross received a total of 600 million yen from 30 countries among 49 countries certified by the United Nations as the least developed.
Bangladesh topped the list, with 160 million yen. Afghanistan followed with 100 million yen, and Bhutan and East Timor, with more than 90 million yen each.
Seventeen African countries also donated to the Red Cross.
"Through donations, these (developing) countries may be expressing their appreciation for Japan's official development assistance and its past support activities after natural disasters," a Red Cross official said.
The official noted that Japanese expatriates in those countries likely contributed.