A Maltese-Australian who was initially reported missing in Japan has told his family that he could not contact them because phone lines were down.

English teacher Jason Briffa, 25, who lives in Melbourne, was located in a village near Sendai, which bore the brunt of the earthquake and tsunami.

He could not contact his family on mobile phone or land lines but has since Friday been helping the villagers amid the devastation.

Contact was eventually established through his employer, who said that Mr Briffa was in good spirits.

"His telephone was running low on battery but he said he was at the Murata high school and he's been helping locals with the clean-up for the past two days," Denis Cusack told ABC News of Australia.

His mother, Mary Briffa, says she wanted him home as soon as possible.

"I'm very happy about it, I really am, I just wish he would hurry up and come home though," she said.

"He's been there too long now, he's been gone over 12 months."

She said the family was relieved to hear the news, "but we are disappointed he didn't ring us himself".

Earlier, she expressed frustration at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) handling of the issue.

The family was only contacted by the department after a TV story about Mr Briffa.

DFAT said it had still not made contact with Mr Briffa and it did not want to get its hopes up until direct contact has been made.