2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake: Nintendo Co. Ltd donates 50 million Yen to the Japanese Red Cross and offers 6 months of free repairs

On January 1st, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Japan, causing the death of over 200 people (with thousands more injured) and causing extensive damage (over 6 billion dollars according to estimations).

In the wake of this disaster, many companies (including Capcom, Koei-Tecmo, and others) have made donations to help people impacted by the earthquake; and Nintendo is one of them. Today, they announced that they’re donating 50 million Yen (about $343.000) to the Japanese Red Cross.

But that’s not all the company is doing to support people affected by the disaster. Customer service will also provide free repairs to people living in the areas designated in the Disaster Relief Act that was passed following the earthquake (more info in Japanese on this website).

Basically, all eligible persons will be able to get free repairs for any Nintendo product (consoles, etc.) that was damaged as a result of the earthquake, even if its warranty has already expired. That “offer” will be available during a period of 6 months following the passing of the Disaster Relief Act (until July 1st to be precise). Do note that the product has to reach the Nintendo Service Center by that date.

Naturally, those repairs only apply to Nintendo products that can be repaired. Products such as old consoles for which parts are no longer available (such as certain Nintendo 3DS models for example) are not eligible.

In order to apply for a free repair, users need to do the following:

Via Nintendo website

• apply for a regular repair via the Nintendo Customer Service website
• send the product to be repaired to the Nintendo Service Center and include one of the following in the package:
  • a note with “2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake” and the repair application number on it
  • a printed copy of the repair request form with “2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake” written on it

Via Mail

• send the product to be repaired to the Nintendo Service Center
• include a note with the following inside the package:
  • ‘2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake’
  • Return address
  • Telephone number
  • Name of product to be repaired
  • Details about problems encountered with the product

Source: Nintendo