I looked after a young lady from Japan when she was a student and now 12 years later we are still in touch. i was so worried when I heard about this disaster that I started looking for ways that I could contact her by. I have now found out that she is alive and well and not on that particular side of the pacific ocean thank goodness but nevertheless she was terrified.
This site may help anyone who is worried and has not heard from their loved ones. Google put up a Find People site.
Here is the link and if you look at the top of the page you can click on English to see what its all about.
http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=es