A volunteer group is planning to send more than 300 Japanese-speaking interpreters to help foreigners in northeastern and eastern Japan, among other movements aimed at providing linguistic support in areas stricken by the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
The Japan Guide Consortium Volunteer Interpreters Bureau based in Tokyo keeps interpreters on standby, both in and outside Japan.
They handle more than 10 languages, including English, Chinese, Korean, Russian and French.
The bureau will have the interpreters work with relief teams and volunteers from overseas as well as quake-affected foreigners at such places as hospitals and evacuation centers.
"We're sure there are many who want to get help but don't know who to ask. Feel free to call us if you have any language problems," one of its staff members said.
The contact number is (03) 3233-7518 and the e-mail address is [email protected]