US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed full support for earthquake-hit Japan on a solidarity visit Sunday, hoping that gratitude for disaster relief would revitalise a sometimes uneasy alliance.

On a brief, largely symbolic stop in Tokyo, Clinton highlighted the support of business leaders and had tea with Emperor Akihito at the Imperial palace — an unusual invitation from the monarch to a non-head of state on a Sunday.

"I'm so, so sorry for everything your country is going through," said Clinton, who shook hands with Akihito and kissed Empress Michiko on the cheek.

Speaking earlier to reporters, Clinton said she believed that Japan would emerge stronger from its worst crisis since World War II.

"We are very confident that Japan will demonstrate the resilience that we have seen during the crisis in the months ahead as you resume the very strong position that you hold in the world today," Clinton said.

"We will do everything we can to support you as you come through this time of trial. And we know you will emerge even stronger than before," she said after meeting with Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto.

Clinton and Matsumoto said that they were launching a business partnership to support Japan's reconstruction on its northeastern coast, where 13,705 people have been confirmed dead and more than 14,000 are still missing.

While details were vague, the heads of the countries' main business federations — the US Chamber of Commerce and Nippon Keidanren — said they would meet on ways that foreign companies can take part in the massive rebuilding.

Tom Donohue, the president of the US Chamber of Commerce, said he would tell US businesses that Japan was en route to recovery and encourage them to stay active in the world's second largest developed economy.

"It is in the interest of the American business community to see that the Japanese economic engine is working at peak performance as quickly as possible," Donohue said, appearing next to Clinton.

US officials are hoping that the US response to Japan's worst disaster since World War II can help reshape attitudes. Japan has been a staunch US ally for decades, but many citizens bristle at what they see as Washington's domination.

Speaking after talks with Clinton, Matsumoto said America's help in the aftermath of the disaster had enabled Japanese people to "feel secure with the Japan-US alliance, including the US military in Japan".

The United States stations some 47,000 troops in Japan under a post-World War II security treaty, often leading to friction with host communities for the military bases.

After the March 11 disaster, US forces launched a round-the-clock relief effort bringing supplies to the battered coast — dubbed Operation Tomodachi, which means "friend" in Japanese.

US helicopters have flown aid missions from an aircraft carrier, marines helped clear the tsunami-ravaged Sendai airport which reopened last week, and thousands joined a search of the coastline for bodies.

"For many Japanese, for decades they felt like the US presence and role in Japan was not decided by them, was a burden that they had to accept," a senior US official said.

"This generation of Japanese has now been demonstrated very clearly — with everything the United States has done — that we are there for them in their time of need, and it has led to a sea change in Japanese attitudes toward the United States," the official told reporters travelling with Clinton.

US nuclear experts have also helped with advice on stabilising the tsunami-hit Fukushima plant, where the US military has flown in coolants and deployed freshwater barges and fire engines to help douse hot reactors.

The Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan's best-selling newspaper, in an editorial last week reflected a view voiced by many survivors of the tsunami disaster.

"We have nothing but the highest praise for the assistance provided by US personnel, which also will be an important contribution toward strengthening the bilateral alliance," it said.

But points of disputes remain — including over the location of the Futenma air base, which is opposed by many residents on the southern island of Okinawa due to its proximity to a crowded urban area.

"This may improve the Japanese people's image of the US military," said politics professor Koji Nakakita of Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo.

"It does not resolve their pending issues, notably Okinawa, but it will have a positive impact on once-soured relations between the two countries," he said.

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