The Wall Street Journal reports that construction of temporary housing is just beginning in the tsunami/earthquake ravaged north of Japan, with 4337 modular units having been built so far.  Australian companies have been meeting with officials of the Japanese Embassy to develop a plan to provide some of the 30,000 modular homes the country will need in the next two months.  Timber company Carter Holt Harvey and Nomad Housing have partnered to propose manufactured flat-packed modular homes, and a representative will fly to Japan to offer their proposal.  The Australian timber industry has close ties with the Japanese, and hopes to play a role in providing 70,000 housing units within the next year.  Currently, 150,000 people are living in 2400 shelters in Japan.