An NPO in Otsu called National Managerial Council for Multicultural Information & Assistance (Tabunka Kyosei Manager Zenkoku Kyogikai 多文化共生マネージャー全国協議会) has set up a telephone hotline for foreigners in Japan wanting information about the Tohoku earthquake/tsunami, victims, etc. The NPO has staff speaking most major languages including English, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, and Tagalog.

The hotline telephone numbers are as follows:

English: 080-3503-9306

Chinese: 080-3691-3641

Portuguese: 080-3486-2768

Spanish: 080-3454-7764

Operators will answer from 9 am to 8 pm every day. Hotlines for other languages will be added later.

Also see their multi-lingual Web site: http://eqinfojp.net/