Deaf Japan News

Hearing high school student awarded first place in National...
Deaf Japan News The 27th National Sign Language Speech Contest for High School Students was held in Tokyo on August 28. Sponsoring was such as the Japanese Federation of the Deaf.Ayaka Hosokawa, a high school senior from Hokkaido and a member of the sign language club, won the first award in the contest. She is full with pleasure, saying that "It is an honor for all the club members"...
Wed, Sep 01 2010

Deaf university student producing TV program on the job...
Deaf Japan News Tomoka Nakamura (19), a Deaf-born student, is working on the production of a one-hour-long program titled "Remove the Gap" since August 17 on the job training at the Ishigaki Cable TV station in Okinawa Prefecture.She majors in international communications at the Department of Humanity and Science in Okinawa University.The theme of the program, which she is making wit...
Tue, Aug 31 2010

Expensive fire-alarm device at home unpopular for the Deaf
Deaf Japan News The fire-alarm device used in the house is not popular among for the Deaf possibly due to the high price.The fire-alarm device in the house, which catch smoke and heat and warn the resident of a fire, will be required to be installed in every house by June 1, 2011. However, most of the devices are auditory, ineffective to the Deaf.A Deaf man, who lived in the second f...
Mon, Aug 23 2010

Government agency to investigate appropriate method of...
Deaf Japan News The Fire and Disaster Management Agency under the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications decided to investigate the problem for the spread of the fire-alarm device accessible to Deaf persons on August 5. Over 100 Deaf people will be asked to cooperate.This investigation will search for the standard of the fire-alarm device and needs ...
Mon, Aug 16 2010

First pair of user and hearing dog passing test; appeal of...
Deaf Japan News A pair of the user and hearing dog first was certified each in Niigata and Nagano prefectures in February, 2010.They are Junko Kato (68) with her hearing dog "Ikoma" (six-year-old Shih Tzu) from Niigata Prefecture, and Kumiko Murasawa (44) with her dog "Karu" (two-year-old beagles) from Nagano Prefecture.They passed the qualifying examination of the Hearing Dogs Socie...
Mon, Aug 16 2010

Easy Cooking Class for persons with disability to be...
Deaf Japan News Rie Shibata (right) cuts carrot thrust into nail of cutting board by one hand.(photo: [link] day-care service facility in a suburb of Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture is preparing an "Easy Cooking Class With One Hand" for persons whose one side has become paralyzed.The lecturer will be Rie Shibata (20), one of the facility staff. She is Deaf and enthusiastic about a ...
Sat, Aug 14 2010

Soft Bank Mobile supporting Deaf children's participation...
Deaf Japan News Soft Bank Mobile, one of the popular mobile phone companies in Japan, announced on August 3 that it would make its mobile service for the Deaf free until September 30.The company supports the participation of Deaf/hard of hearing children in events during summer vacation with the system called the "Mobile type remote information system", which what the speaker says is...
Sun, Aug 08 2010

Video conference system begins at city office in Chiba...
Deaf Japan News Mayor Yoshitaka Sakuma (left) talks in sign language with Tokita, president of the Ichihara Deaf Society, on computer through the video conference system.(photo: [link] City Office in Chiba Prefecture started the operation of the video conference, with which sign language is used on the computer, on July 27 between the south branch office and the city office, first ...
Sat, Aug 07 2010

Deaf couple confronted by police search without...
Deaf Japan News Note written by the police agent to communicate with the Deaf couple. (photo: [link] agents from the Aichi Prefecture Police suddenly visited the house of the Deaf married couple in Aichi Prefecture this May, and the search warrant of the suspicion of the Stimulants Control Law violation against the husband was presented.The agents did not bring the sign language in...
Thu, Jul 29 2010

Sign language cafe in Kobe City getting popular by word of...
Deaf Japan News Guests are enjoying talking in sign language or tactile communication at the "Sign Language Cafe". (photo: [link] coffee house, called the "Sign Language Cafe", opened in July four years ago. It is always crowded with people, both Deaf and hearing; they enjoy talking in sign language and/or writing.A citizen group in Kobe City, called "Hyogo Deaf Net" has opened the...
Thu, Jul 29 2010

Japanese finger spelling application for iPhone developed
Deaf Japan News Deaf Japan, located in Osaka, has developed the application of the Japanese finger spelling for iPhone users.Outline:You can learn the finger spelling easily to express and reading while playing.You also can express various words such as the names of the places, the stations, shops, and countries with the use of the finger spelling.You also can talk with the Deaf and/...
Wed, Jul 21 2010

Real-time caption system used for questioning Deaf woman in...
Deaf Japan News There was a public trial of the lawsuit brought up by a Deaf woman (63), a Kobe City resident, to request the disposal cancellation from the government in the Kobe district court on July 6.She has appealed that it was unjustified not to be able to get the disability basic pension because the degree of her hearing loss had not been proven at the age of 20.The real-time...
Wed, Jul 14 2010

Deaf painter donating oil painting to city office in...
Deaf Japan News Takeshi Yamane (70) , well known as "the Deaf Painter" in Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture donated an oil painting that depicted the Tokiwa Park to the city on July 2.Takeshi was born Deaf, graduated from the school for the Deaf and worked at the signboard shop, etc. in the city. When he was 28 years old, he wanted to make the best use of the technique of paint mixtures...
Fri, Jul 09 2010

Deaf student to encourage hearing teams at opening ceremony...
Deaf Japan News Kohei Fujita will give his message to hearing baseball teams in sign language in opening ceremony. (photo: [link] 92nd National High School Baseball Championship Fukuoka preliminary Game, sponsored by the Prefecture High School Baseball League, etc. starts on July 3.In the opening ceremony, Kohei Fujita (17) plans to present an encouraging message to the hearing hig...
Thu, Jul 01 2010

Visual instruction cards prepared for Deaf patient during...
Deaf Japan News Deaf patients usually feel uneasiness in communications with the doctor and the radiological technologist as the examination often starts without knowing; the Deaf patient doesn't hear the verbal signals, "Inhale", "Take it ease" and the instruction to change the position of the body.Michiko Koga, the president of the Saga Prefecture Association of the Hard of Hearing...
Tue, Jun 29 2010

Deaf group demanding for interpreting political candidates'...
Deaf Japan News The national election for the House of Councilors will take place on July 11 across Japan, and the TV has started to air the program on the political candidates in the House of Councilors election electoral district. The Fukui Prefecture Society of Welfare of the Deaf demanded that the government should allow the interpreting the campaign speech on TV. Their proposal ...
Mon, Jun 28 2010

MA program on disability administrative policy to launch on...
Deaf Japan News It was recently announced that The Nippon Foundation in Japan and Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, etc. will cooperate to advance the disability policy in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, establishing the graduate program on the administrative service for the persons with disabilities on the Internet in September, 2011.The ...
Sun, Jun 20 2010

Monthly Comic on Deaf couple published
Deaf Japan News Cartoon based on a story of the Deaf coupleKen Inoue, a Deaf-born barber, had wanted for more interpreters in his hometown, Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture. His Deaf wife Mieko who supported him. They both worked hard for the Deaf community for 30 years.Mieko had suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosi (ALS) preceded five years ago, following the death of Ken's mothe...
Thu, Jun 17 2010

Deaf teammates enjoying baseball game with police trainees
Deaf Japan News The friendly match of the Tochigi Prefecture School for the Deaf and the Tochigi Prefecture Police Training School took place at the school ground on June 12 to promote good fellowship through baseball.The baseball club of the school, combined of junior high school and high school students, and the new hearing trainees of the Police Training School made the good game....
Thu, Jun 17 2010

Schools for the Deaf reorganized to meet the needs of...
Deaf Japan News Toyama Prefecture has two schools for the Deaf. One of them, called Toyama School for the Deaf, has changed its name to Toyama Support School for the Deaf this April. At the same time a new class of four students with intellectual disability was set up in the high school unit of the school.The school lunch time and the classroom cleaning are done unrelated to the type...
Mon, Jun 14 2010

Sign language textbook on medicine published
Deaf Japan News "The textbook on the medicine in sign language "It is important for the pharmacist to explain to the patient about the medicine and see if he understands how to use it.The book, titled "The textbook on the medicine in sign language" (B5 size,
Mon, Jun 14 2010

Sign language circle to hold talk show with first deaf...
Deaf Japan News Leaflet on the talk show withDeaf actress Akiko OshidariThe talk show with Akiko Oshidari, the first Deaf actress in Japan, will take place at Yokohama on July 29, 2010, 19:00-20:20.Sponsoring is the sign language circle called Yokohama South District Sign Language Circle Sea Gull as its special project.Admission fee: 800 yenThe fee for the circle members are free.
Fri, Jun 11 2010

Police stations setting up the signboard to communicate in...
Deaf Japan News The Yamaguchi Prefecture Police began to display the "Ear-mark" sign, which shows the willingness to communicate with hard of hearing persons in writing, in 20 places in total such as all police stations, traffic centers, etc. in the prefecture on June 1 so that hard of hearing persons might consult.The All Japan League of the Hard of Hearing (AJLHH) says that the att...
Thu, Jun 10 2010

Deaf movie back again at Tokyo, after attracting 150,000...
Deaf Japan News The movie about a life of the Deaf, titled "A Yuzuriha" (Daphniphyllum macropodum), was first shown at Tokyo in June last year, being shown again at the same movie theater until June 18.Within one year the movie has attracted more than 150,000 viewers at 516 movie theaters in the whole country. For Kentaro Hayase (37) , a Deaf-born director, it was an unexpected smas...
Thu, Jun 10 2010

Deaf swimmer saying, "The pool is where I always shine"
Deaf Japan News Kana Imamura (22) , a resident in the Osaka area, is working hard at a strenuous practice for the Deaflympics in Athens scheduled for 2013.She won the gold medal in the "Deaflympic Games" in Melbourne in 2005, , the first for the Japanese swimming team, and also won two silver medals at the Deaflympic Games in Taipei in 2009.Kana, who turned out hard of hearing at ha...
Sun, Jun 06 2010

Deaf man succeeds in the skiing downhill in high mountain...
Deaf Japan News (up) Satoshi Tamura standing atop before skiing downhill(bottom) He first planned to ski along the blue line, but changed to the green line on the peak due the snow condition.(photos: [link] Tamura, a Deaf adventurer, succeeded in skiing downhill on Kitadake (3192m) in Yamanashi Prefecture at around 15:00 on May 21, 2010.Kitadake is the second high peak in Japan.It...
Thu, Jun 03 2010

Disaster information to appear on vending machines through...
Deaf Japan News Hyogo Prefecture has introduced the alert system for the Deaf residents that sends textual information regarding disaster to the vending machines in the prefecture facilities.There are many vending machines on the streets and in facilities in larger cities in Japan. With the use of the electric wave of the cellular phone, the information on the disaster or daily life ...
Tue, Jun 01 2010

Lecture meeting on Deaf communities in developing countries...
Deaf Japan News A group called "Peace Village for Deaf" will held the lecture meeting on Deaf communities in developing countries in Tokyo on Saturday, May 29, 2010, 18:00-20:45.Peggy Lynn Proccer will lecture (picture).[profile]Born in Indiana in 1963. After she graduated from the Indiana School for the Deaf, she majored in business at Gallaudet University. Moved to Japan in 1991 af...
Thu, May 27 2010

Friendship of runners with disabilities encouraging each...
Deaf Japan News Hisashi Nagai (front) is massaged at the treatment clinicMasahito Shinno (back) manages.(photo: [link] Nagai (54), a Deaf man, and Masahito Shinno (53), a man visually impaired, are rivals in Shizuoka Prefecture. Both the men participate in a lot of running meets and have the record with less than three hours for the full length marathon.Hisashi has the experience o...
Thu, May 27 2010

Support hard of hearing lay judge through note taking
Deaf Japan News The backup lay judge with hearing loss was first elected to the lay judge trial on the rape case that has started on May 18 in the Nara district court.The district court provided the real-time caption service in court to meet her needs.According to the Nara district court, she asked for note taking if selected in responding by the questionnaire that they have sent in ...
Thu, May 27 2010

Porposed JSL signs for "twitter", "follow," and "follower"
Deaf Japan News A Deaf blogger has proposed some JSL signs for "twitter", "follow," and "follower" in the following YouTube.I wonder how you would sign for these terms? [link]
Tue, May 25 2010

Note-takers absent from 13 towns and villages in Iwate...
Deaf Japan News The investigation in fiscal year 2006 by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare showed that the communication means which about 340,000 Deaf/hard of hearing persons in Japan use are the sign language (18.9%) and note taking (30.2%).In Iwate Prefecture, a northern part of Japan, the training and the activities for note takers have not advanced so far. About 170 not...
Tue, May 25 2010

Deaf rugby team training in preparation for international...
Deaf Japan News The international Deaf rugby games will be held in August, 2011 in Fiji. Four teams from Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan will compete.There was a camp training in Shizuoka Prefecture, a mecca for rugby, on May 1-2, which 17 Deaf teammates, from the high school students to adults, came together from across Japan.With Wataru Murata, a head coach of the national...
Mon, May 24 2010

Work by Deaf craft man selected at arts contest in Tokyo
Deaf Japan News A wood carving work, titled "The Rusted Whale" by Sakuzo Tsuchiya (61) was selected for the first time to "The 84th Country Exhibition" held early May in the National New Museum in Minato Ward, Tokyo. The stick was pierced to the belly of the whale of the length about three meters made with the wooden patches. The shadow of the work shakes when the visitor moves it a...
Mon, May 24 2010

Cultural lecture meeting for Deaf to take place in Nagoya...
Deaf Japan News The 7th Nagoya City Cultural Lecture Meeting is scheduled for June 27, Sunday, 2010, 13:30-16:00.Hirofumi Baba will talk about his experience in Brazil.Born on March 11, 1976 in Wakayama Prefecture. Graduated from the Wakayama School for the Deaf.Went to Brazil alone at the age of 20. Had a hard time to get familiar with the local life, having a lonesome life. Gradual...
Wed, May 19 2010

Journalist who has covered Deafblind professor to lecture...
Deaf Japan News Professor Satoru Fukushima communicatesby "Finger Braille"(photo: [link] lecture meeting that focuses on human rights and living through the life of Dr. Satoru Fukushima, a Deafblind professor of The University of Tokyo will be held in Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture on May 29.The lecturer will be Kumiko Ikui, a reporter for Asahi Shimbun newspaper who has covered Sa...
Fri, May 14 2010

Sign language speech contest for hearing high school...
Deaf Japan News The sign language speech contest was held in Yoshikan High School in the Oita City, Oita Prefecture, a part of the southern island of Japan. The contest has been held every year for 18 years at the school.Eight students majoring in welfare course made a speech in sign language about what they felt in daily life as a theme, for six minutes per student. The check point...
Wed, May 05 2010

Sign language interpreting service arranged in prefecture...
Deaf Japan News The assembly steering committee of the Kochi Prefecture Assembly decided on April 26 that the interpreters be put on the gallery if requested in advance. This interpreting service will be available for the plenary session meeting scheduled for June 9 and further meetings.The Kochi Prefecture Association of the Deaf had sent a letter to the Chairperson of the Assembly ...
Thu, Apr 29 2010

Local courts differently dealing with issue on interpreting...
Deaf Japan News The 4th hearing for the lawsuit on the disability support law, which the disability advocates have claimed to be unconstitutional, was opened in the Wakayama district court on April 9.The judge showed appreciation for the plaintiff's hardship for one year or more after the reconciliation was settled.A lot of interpreters must have been indispensable for the Deaf i...
Mon, Apr 26 2010

Minister holds second interview on UStream, using sign...
Deaf Japan News The Minister of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, Kazuhiro Haraguchi, had a live interview on UStream on April 9, one of the streaming media on the Internet. He did not inform the Office of Public Relations of the ministry about the interview in advance and it became a hot topic in the whole country.Minister Haraguchi notified through Twi...
Tue, Apr 20 2010

Hearing girls publishing book on sign language in Hiroshima...
Deaf Japan News Yamashita (left) and Goto showed their new book.(photo: [link] Yamashita and Hane Gotou, both sixth graders in Hiroshima City, completed a book titled "Mysterious Eggs" that tells how wonderful it is to talk in sign language.The book is about the girl, who was presented the flower by a Deaf old woman, studied sign language and signed to her, "Thank you".Seino invite...
Fri, Apr 09 2010

Organization formed to promote spread of sign language in...
Deaf Japan News "We want many people to get to know sign language (JSL) more. We also change the current society to the one without discrimination".Taku Koike (31) and his friends formed an organization called "Signing Hands" in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture on April 1.Taku, who is hard of hearing, said, "Actually, only handful of deaf persons don't sign. Our activities will contr...
Fri, Apr 09 2010

New graduate school in Tsukuba enrolls students with visual...
Deaf Japan News The entrance ceremony of the graduate school that was newly established for students with visual and hearing impairments was held at Tsukuba University of Technology in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture on April 5. Seven men and women in the 20-40's were admitted to the graduate program.The graduate school for the visually impaired students is the first time in the wor...
Wed, Apr 07 2010

Chinese Deaf dancers perform in Nagasaki City in March
Deaf Japan News Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva ("A Thousand-hand Goddess"):one of the performancesby the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupethat enchanted the Japanese spectator.(photo: [link] members of the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe enchanted the spectator in Nagasaki City on March 22 by a variegated repertoire of 17 like the dance, the musical instrument...
Tue, Apr 06 2010

Electric maker delivering voice recognition system to Mazda
Deaf Japan News The Nippon Electric Co. (NEC) announced that they had delivered the voice recognition system to the vehicle part laboratory of Mazda on March 25.The laboratory works on experiment, research, and verification business of vehicle development.The "Voice Graphy" system supports the development business by Deaf workers in the laboratory such as in the minutes making.
Tue, Apr 06 2010

Princess Kiko visits Deaf school after national conference...
Deaf Japan News Her Highness Akishinonomiya speaks to kindergartners who performed as a part of attraction before the opening ceremony at the Conference.(photo: [link] Highness Akishinonomiya visited the Tottori School for the Deaf, etc. after the National Tuberculosis Prevention Conference in Tottori Prefecture before returning to her royal residence on March 19, 2010.She visited...
Tue, Mar 23 2010

Symposium on accessibility to information for Deaf/HoH to...
Deaf Japan News The symposium related to the information accessibility for those who are Deaf/hard of hearing will be held on the campus of Ritsumeikan University located in Kyoto on March 22.Tentative program:10:00-10:15Opening remark by the organizer from Ritsumeikan University10:20-12:00First part: Research report (about 30 minutes each topic)- Support by captioning through voice ...
Wed, Mar 17 2010

Deaf movie "Ant and Katydid" to be shown in Tokyo
Deaf Japan News A 40-min Deaf film, "Ant and Katydid" based on the Aesop fairy tale, will be shown in Tokyo on March 20, Saturday. [link] the black display)A Deaf businessman meets various people, and faces his bitter past. When he meets his old classmate Katydid first after a long time, he finds how he has felt about himself. Will his mind be opened through remembering his school ...
Thu, Mar 11 2010

Hearing college to offer Deaf students with first support...
Deaf Japan News The national average rate of Deaf students who advance to the university and the junior college is estimated about 20%, which is said to be extremely low.The main factor is considered that these institutes of higher education are not prepared to support the Deaf students.According to the press release, the Japan College of Social Work, with the support of The Nippon F...
Wed, Mar 10 2010

Deaf Senior Citizens Conference selected for best...
Deaf Japan News Recently, Shizuoka Prefecture officials announced the prize winner of the "Prefecture Convention Entertainment Grand Prize 2009", to be presented to one of the national/local conventions held in the prefecture.The Grand Prize went to the National Conference of Deaf Senior Citizens, sponsored by the Senior Session of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf. It had taken p...
Sun, Mar 07 2010