Deaf Japan News

Seminar tells all people including the Deaf to get related...
Deaf Japan News About 15 years have passed since the earthquake of a large scale, named the "Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake", occurred in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture in 1995.The "Disaster Prevention Seminar" took place at the prefecture hall in Kobe City on June 10, 2009.The groups concerned on the disaster prevention reported on study results.About 200 persons participated, pondering abo...
Language Tech Culture Thu, Jun 18 2009

Police training school students learn sign language and...
Deaf Japan News In order to understand feelings of Deaf persons, and to attempt communications, the sign language course was held in the Police Training School in Kai city, Yamanashi Prefecture, and 74 students and regional policemen participated.Kayoko Nishina, a member of the Yamanashi Prefecture Association of the Deaf, who became deaf at the age of 2, explained a daily life of th...
Language Education Culture Wed, Jun 17 2009

Deaf photograph exhibition held in Kyoto City
Deaf Japan News Deaf photograph exhibition in Kyoto City(photo: [link] photograph exhibition is held on June 12-21, 2009 in a center, called the Community Sagano, in Kyoto City. All the photographs were taken by the Deaf.The visitors gaze ardently to the photographs filled with the rich feeling.To make persons with disabilities live for something worth, the Kyoto City Association ...
Art and Storytelling Culture Wed, Jun 17 2009

Doctor arrested for swindling through false diagnosis on...
Deaf Japan News Doctor arrested by Prefecture Police (with mask)(photo: [link] Hokkaido Prefecture Police arrested a grop of hearing men on June 11, 2009 on the suspicion of the swindle, and the false medical certificate making and its exercise.They were an otolaryngologist (74) who operates a private clinic in Sapporo City, a public consultant on social and labor insurance (67) w...
Legal Culture Tue, Jun 16 2009

The Revised Copyright Act allows caption and sign language...
Deaf Japan News The Revised Copyright Act to solve the problems related with the Internet was passed, and approved unanimously in the House of Councilors plenary session on June 12, 2009. This act will be enforced on January 1, 2010.This revision has aimed at the solution of the problems in the Copyright Act in the days of the Internet, etc., to promote the circulation of digital con...
Tech Legal Culture Sun, Jun 14 2009

Dr. Thomas Holcomb to present lecture in Japan
Deaf Japan News Dr. Thomas Holcomb, who is one of several Deaf professionals with a PhD in Deaf education, currently teaches Deaf culture, Deaf education, Deaf children Development and Deaf counseling, and also trains interpreters at Ohlone College.He will come to Japan again to lecture as follows. ASL will be used, and JSL/spoken Japanese interpretation will be provided.1. Lecture...
Higher Education Language Culture Fri, Jun 12 2009

City council introduces interpreting in official meeting
Deaf Japan News To help the Deaf understand the contents of the assembly, the Okinawa Prefecture Naha City Council decided on June 8, 2009 to introduce an interpreting service in the plenary session. The interpreting will be in the gallery of the Council.The Naha City Council was the first kind in the prefecture to make the outline of the service to be conducted, which was decided by...
Language Legal Culture Tue, Jun 09 2009

Report: actual situation of support provided by medical...
Deaf Japan News Report on the support service to Deaf medical students(photo: [link] National Sign Language Training Center, located in Kyoto City, investigated the situation of support services that the Deaf medical students receive, and summarized it in the report early this June.The report points out a lot of problems such as the medical schools with many practices were not abl...
Higher Education Language Legal Sun, Jun 07 2009

Deaf hostess at gathering in Ginza related with her new...
Deaf Japan News Rie Saito in kimono, with her autobiography(photo: [link] Saito (25) , a Deaf woman who works as a popular hostess at the night club in Ginza, Tokyo, held a handshake gathering that commemorated her new book, titled "The Talk-In-Writing Hostess" (Kobunsha Publishing Co.), for the sale at a coffee shop,"Swan Cafe Ginza," on May 31, 2009.In the interview by writing, ...
Media Culture Fri, Jun 05 2009

Fire emergency report system for the Deaf through Internet...
Deaf Japan News Recently, a fire and disaster prevention workshop was held at the fire station in Kyoto City. About 20 people including the Deaf participated.The workshop aimed to offer them to learn how to use the disaster report system, called "Kyoto City Web119," with the use of cellular phone.Deaf residents and commuters from outside the City are eligible to register for the "We...
Tech Culture Mon, Jun 01 2009

"World from Deaf viewpoint", Deaf photographer's works...
Deaf Japan News Ryoko Miyamoto(photo: [link] Pinwheel Of Light", one of her fantastic photographsdisplayed at the photograph exhibition.
Art and Storytelling Culture Fri, May 29 2009

Tokyo Support Center for the DeafBlind established to...
Deaf Japan News (photo: [link] May 27, 2009, the Tokyo Support Center for the DeafBlind was established in Taito Ward, Tokyo. It aims to support the persons unable to hear and see, for social participation.In the center, training to read the character on the personal computer with an electronic equipment and to learn the fingering braille, fellowship gatherings, etc. will be provide...
Education Culture Thu, May 28 2009

Deaf visitors rejected by cruise company on tour to ruined...
Deaf Japan News The Warship Island (officially Hashi Island),It is so called because it looks like the one!(photo: [link] landing on the deserted island(photo: [link] rule says: "Any person with disability is not allowed to participate in cruising".There is an island called the Warship Island (officially Hashi Island) near Nagasaki City, far southern island of Japan. The Island h...
Audism Legal Culture Tue, May 26 2009

Documentary film on Deaf rock band shown in theaters in...
Deaf Japan News (photo: [link] Rock Revolver," a 90-minute documentary film on the activities of a signing rock band, called "THE BRIGHT EYES," was shown in a theater in Tokyo on May 16, 2009."THE BRIGHT EYES" which consists of four Deaf and one hearing members has celebrated the 20th anniversary of establishment last year.Why was the band formed in spite of deafness?It would take ...
Media Art and Storytelling Culture Sun, May 24 2009

Deaf nightclub hostess writes autobiography, "The Hostess...
Deaf Japan News Rie Saito with her new book(photo: [link] Saito (25) wrote an autobiography titled "Hostess Talks In Writing," which was published on May 21, 2009.She who became deaf when she was about two years old because of sickness, was the popular hostess at a nightclub in Ginza, a Tokyo downtown.The book is about how she fought to reach the top as a bar hostess.Excerpted from...
Media Art and Storytelling Culture Fri, May 22 2009

Deaf students rewarded for their haircut service at...
Deaf Japan News Deaf student giving a man a haircut at the facility;Sachiko Hiraoka, a techer (far right)(photo: [link] )It was decided that the haircut department in the advanced course of the Okayama School for the Deaf in Okayama Prefecture would receive the commendation from the Japanese Beneficence Association located in Tokyo for the haircut service in a welfare facility that...
Education Culture Thu, May 21 2009

Deaf woman sues pension agency for not getting basic...
Deaf Japan News A deaf-born woman (62) from Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture near Kyoto filed a case at the Kobe District Court against the Social Pension Agency under the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labor on May 18, 2009.Because her hearing impairment was not able to prove when she was 20 years old, she was not eligible for the basic disability pension, which is unjustified, accordin...
Legal Culture Wed, May 20 2009

Deaf relay service CEO to speak about business in Tokyo
Deaf Japan News The Japanese Computer Society of the Deaf/HOH will hold its monthly meeting in the Tokyo Welfare Hall for the Disabled in the afternoon on May 16, 2009. As part of the program, Makoto Sakakibara, a Deaf entrepreneur will lecture on the telecommunications relay service.He is the chairman and CEO of the Japan Signers Services, LLC, a merger company that mainly focuses o...
Tech Culture Tue, May 19 2009

Hearing dog working for Deaf beauty parlor owner in Nagasaki
Deaf Japan News The hearing dog named "Take" in Omura City, Nagasaki Prefecture was for the first time welcomed in Kyushu, the southern island of Japan.He takes an active role as his master's "ear" in the beauty parlor "Hair Salon Teru" owened by Tsutomu Miyamoto (50).Take, a male crossbreed dog, was born in 2006. He had a basic training such as following orders by sitting down or ...
Culture Mon, May 18 2009

Hard of hearing guitarist to play solo at Nagoya City
Deaf Japan News Masaaki Kimura plays guitar(photo: [link] "guitar concert" with a free invitation will be held on May 31, 2009 at Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture.A guitar academy in Nagoya which operates five classrooms in Nagoya City and other cities, sponsors it.Masaaki Kimura (39) from the Nagoya City, hard of hearing since four years old, will play the guitar solo in the concer...
Art and Storytelling Culture Fri, May 15 2009

Nagoya Mayor vows to appoint persons with disabilities...
Deaf Japan News Takashi Kawamura, Nagoya mayorintroduces himself in sign language(photo: [link] May 10 Takashi Kawamura, Nagoya mayor who had been chosen by the election in April, 2009, spoke that he would appoint persons with disabilities as the executive members of the city so that their feedback or opinions might be reflected in the welfare administration.City officials have alr...
Culture Wed, May 13 2009

Deaf Immigrants in Japan will hold first national meeting...
Deaf Japan News The Society of Deaf Immigrants in Japan will hold the first national meeting in Kyoto City at 13:30 on Sunday, June 14, 2009.Tentative program:1. 40-minute movie that "Deaf Media", a Deaf Korean group, made.2. Lecture titled "A foreign resident with disability in Japan who fought for pension trial"A lot of Deaf foreign residents live in Japan. Some were born to a fore...
Culture Tue, May 12 2009

First graduate school for deaf/HOH students to start in 2010
Deaf Japan News Tsukuba University of Technology, located in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, which offers deaf/HOH students and visually impaired students respectively, announced on April 23, 2009 that it would start a graduate program next spring.The authorization of the graduate program by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will be reportedly expec...
Higher Education Tech Culture Fri, May 08 2009

"The Deaf Day 2009" to be held in Tokyo in July, 2009
Deaf Japan News D PRO, a JSL advocate group established in 1993, will held "The Deaf Day 2009" at Nakano Ward, Tokyo on July 18-19, 2009 since the last event 8 years ago.As for the theme, it is planned to examine what D PRO has achieved for 18 years".The following special keynote speeches are scheduled as part of the program.1. "Deaf Movement in Japan"Mr. Toshisaburo Ishino, vice pre...
Culture Thu, May 07 2009

Universal design for the Deaf in railroad station in...
Deaf Japan News Discussing on universal design to be introducedin the railroad station and library(photo: [link] Yamanashi Universal Design Society and the Yamanashi Prefecture Volunteer Association held the discussion session on the ideal way of the universal design in the Japan Railroad Kofu Station and the new prefecture library at Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture on April 25, 20...
Media Culture Fri, May 01 2009

Smelling alarm unit developed to save Deaf persons from the...
Deaf Japan News The spray (center), filled with the smell like wasabi or the horseradish, is put in a right case and synchronizes with the fire-alarm device for the house (left). (photo: [link] alarm unit that cautions the Deaf by the horseradish-like smell when a fire is perceived was donated to the prefectural school for the deaf in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecutre on April 25...
Tech Culture Thu, Apr 30 2009

Deaf theatrical group starts training course on acting in...
Deaf Japan News The Japanese Theater of the Deaf (JTD), located in Tokyo, is starting the training course for new starters at 19:00-21:00 eight times in total from April to June, 2009.The goal of each workshop led by the JTD members:Beginning:The student learns the basic knowledge concerning the JTD such as the origin of the theatrical company, etc. He introduces himself and learns h...
Art and Storytelling Culture Thu, Apr 23 2009

Deaf woman hit by local train to death in Hiroshima
Deaf Japan News Reiko Iwakawa (36), a welfare facilities worker, had been crossing the railroad gate by bicycle in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture in the evening on April 19, 2009. The gate was neither equipped with an alarm nor the crossing barrier.She was not aware the three-car local train for Fukuyama from Fuchu with 70 passengers approaching and was hit to death around 6:35 ...
Media Culture Tue, Apr 21 2009

Deafened man wins lawsuit case to receive special injury...
Deaf Japan News A Tokyo resident (58) who said he had lost hearing during school days sued against the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labor, claiming that it would be illegal that it has not granted him with the special injury and disease benefit.On April 17 at the Tokyo Local Court, the presiding judge accepted the claim, explaining, "The person in question of having found deafness...
Legal Culture Mon, Apr 20 2009

Osaka City demanded with 2700 signatures for better...
Deaf Japan News A group of deaf people met with the Osaka City officials with the signature of about 2700 and demanded for the support by better interpreting at the Osaka Municipal General Hospital.It was because Toshiko Nakawaki (51), a professional nurse, who has kept supporting the Deaf patients with interpreting for 33 years, has retired at the end of March, 2009. She was the onl...
Media Legal Culture Fri, Apr 17 2009

School that educates Deaf children calls for more donations...
Deaf Japan News Fundraising on the street(photo: [link] Meisei School, a kind of charter school for the Deaf located in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, is making efforts to fundraising to set up the junior high school that educate Deaf children in Japanese Sign Language.The donations of about 20 million yen equivalent to 2/3 of the target capital have already gathered by the parents and gua...
Education Culture Thu, Apr 16 2009

Deaf interpreter training program starts in May, 2009
Deaf Japan News The Tokyo Federation of the Deaf (TFD) has offered Deaf persons who wished to become an interpreter the training course since 2005. Some of them who completed it stood interpreting in the stage during the ceremony of the Tokyo Conference.The trained Deaf interpreters have been involved in the interpreting services for the DeafBlind and for the Deaf foreigners beside t...
Language Culture Wed, Apr 15 2009

Deaf person experiences mock trial as lay judge in Kagawa...
Deaf Japan News The new system of lay judges will start in May, 2009.The mock trial was held in the Matsuyama District Court in Kagawa Prefecture, southern part of Japan, where a Deaf person served as the lay judge.There were ideas that helped the Deaf person to easily understand what was going on at the court, such as three interpreters worked effectively in detail in the court.A c...
Education Legal Culture Fri, Apr 10 2009

Suit filed by Deaf clerk for compensatory damages against...
Deaf Japan News A Deaf clerk (40), an Osaka City resident who has worked for the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, filed a suit for compensation for the damages of about seven million yen against the bank, citing that it overlooked her needs in the workplace and chance for the promotion.As reported, this lawsuit reached a reconciliation in the Osaka District Court that both the parties ...
Audism Legal Culture Thu, Apr 09 2009

IT experiment on real-time captioning system for the Deaf...
Deaf Japan News Tsukuba University of Technology, Softbank Mobile, and a non-profit organization called the Nagano Summarized Center, and Gunma University began the initial experiment of the "Mobile Remote Communication System" intended for the Deaf on April 6, 2009.The system helps Deaf students who attend the class where a hearing teacher lectures with the real-time captioning ser...
Tech Wed, Apr 08 2009

Deaf survivor tells experience in WWII, giving up to become...
Deaf Japan News Recently, an exhibit on "The WWII and Home Front" that showed the hard living during the WWII era was opened in Kyoto City. The event aimed to let the next generation aware of how the Japanese people survived the hardships due to the war.Iwao Mihara (78), a Kyoto resident, told about his own war experience. He was born Deaf in Osaka City, next to Kyoto. As a boy he ye...
Culture Mon, Apr 06 2009

Experimental program with the use of Sign Language at ...
Deaf Japan News The experimental program with the use of "Japanese Sign Language" (JSL) as the first language of the Deaf children has been carried out for two years at three schools for the Deaf in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan. It ended when the school year was over at the end of March, 2009.In the classroom at the Sapporo School for the Deaf, located in the capital of Hok...
Language Education Culture Wed, Apr 01 2009

Interpreting provided for the Deaf at regular plenary...
Deaf Japan News Interpreting was provided for Deaf persons during a general question session at the first regular plenary meeting of the Hayama Town Council in Kanagawa Prefecture, a neighboring area of Tokyo, on March 24, 2009. Such interpreting in the assembly hall was first according to this town council secretariat.An assembly member asked questions taking up one of the Town's po...
Culture Tue, Mar 31 2009

Deaf movie preview in Tokyo late March
Deaf Japan News Her Imperial Highness Akishinonomiya Kikospeaking in sign language (second from left)Eriko Imai and her co-starwho acted her Deaf boyfriend in the movie(photo: [link] movie, titled "The Transfer Leaves", was produced in commemorative of the 60th anniversary of establishment of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf. A preview of the movie was held in Tokyo on March 28, ...
Media Language Culture Sun, Mar 29 2009

Hearing college students required to master sign language...
Deaf Japan News According to the press release of Japan College of Social Work (Kiyose City, Tokyo), the College will set up the teacher training program for the special support school (Deaf) in fiscal year 2009 staring this April, and learning Japanese Sign Language in the program, required in obtaining the teaching license, will be the first time in the nation.The teacher-training ...
Language Education Legal Sun, Mar 29 2009

7th National Deaf Basketball Game held in Kyoto in March
Deaf Japan News (photo: [link] 7th National Deaf Basketball Game was held in the gym in Kyoto City on March 21-22, 2009, sponsored by the Japan Deaf Basketball Society, a nonprofit organization.Twenty teams in total, 12 boy teams and 8 girl teams from Hokkaido, a northern island of Japan, to Fukuoka, a southern part of the nation, participated and about 200 players competed the lea...
Culture Thu, Mar 26 2009

Hearing university to set up disability office to secure...
Deaf Japan News Miyagi University of Education will set up an "Office to support the students with disabilities" in April when an academic fiscal year starts.More and more students with disabilities are being enrolled in colleges/universities across Japan, and many of the higher education institutions are in trouble to meet their needs.The University officials explained, "Our univers...
Higher Education Legal Thu, Mar 26 2009

Deaf actress will present signing musical in hometown in...
Deaf Japan News Hiroe Ohashi, Deaf actress(photo: [link] Ohashi (37), a Deaf actress, will present a signing musical, titled "Call Me A Hero", in Saga Prefecture on April 12, 2009.She found the pleasure in self-expression through sign language and dancing, and made a play that depicted her own life leading to the stage activities. She appeals for the importance of the belief in th...
Art and Storytelling Culture Mon, Mar 23 2009

Deaf woman acquires Ph.D from hearing university
Deaf Japan News Yoshida graduates with Ph.D(photo: [link] Yoshida (31), a Deaf graduate student majoring in life mechanism research course at Showa Women's University, acquired the Ph.D. She was conferred the degree on March 8, and will start to work as a full-time instructor at the University in April.After Yoshida got a BA from Hosei University and an MA from Showa Women's Univer...
Higher Education Culture Thu, Mar 19 2009

Deaf children enjoy concert offered by hearing students
Deaf Japan News (above) Hearing bras band club members sign lyrics during performance(below) Deaf children experience drumming(photo: [link] bras band club members of the Fukuoka High School, located in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture visited the Takaoka School for the Deaf on March 16, and offered to hold the concert.Members of the Bras Band Club visit the School for the Deaf ever...
Media Culture Wed, Mar 18 2009

Hearing teacher who formed Deaf photo club retires this...
Deaf Japan News Takada (middle) with his Deaf students who are photo club members(photo: [link] Takada (60), a hearing mathematics teacher who has led the photograph club in the Tottori Prefecture School for the Deaf for 28 years, will retire in April, 2009. The club has boasted for winning at a national high school photograph contest, etc. many times.Takada said, "It is important ...
Education Tue, Mar 17 2009

Emergency rescue arriving 1 hour later after Deaf man's...
Deaf Japan News According to Yokohama City officials, a Deaf man faxed to the fire fighting command center saying that his wife fell down at home with unconsciousness, but his urgent request was unnoticed for 40 minutes and the rescue service was delayed for about one hour.The reason for delay was that the buzzer that informed the staff of the fax arrival was out of order. Fortunate...
Media Tech Legal Mon, Mar 16 2009

Deaf cross-country skiing athlete working hard for...
Deaf Japan News (photo: [link] Deaf cross-country skiing athlete, Hiroshi Yoshii (27), who started cross-country skiing six years ago, won two times in domestic meetings in February; the sprint free 1 km at the the 11th Japanese Cross-Country Skiing Athletic Meet for the Persons with Disabilities, and the Japan Paralympic Games 2009 Free 9 km cross-country skiing athletic meet.Yosh...
Culture Fri, Mar 13 2009

Spoken Japanese terms developed in sign language for...
Deaf Japan News The lay judges system will start in May, 2009. In preparation for it, the Japanese Sign Language Laboratory at the national sign language training center in Kyoto City developed the sign language for the terms to transmit the content of the trial correctly. This effort will help a Deaf person when selected a lay judge.The 50 terms, such as "lay judge", "prosecution", ...
Language Legal Culture Thu, Mar 12 2009

Deaf woman working for hearing kids at nursery center
Deaf Japan News In connection to the "Day of the Ear" on March 3, the Kitakyushu City Association of the Late Deafened and Hard of Hearing held a meeting on March 8 . About 100 people gathered.At the meeting, Sachiko Uchida (54), a board member of the Association, gave a speech on her own experience as a deaf nursery teacher. Note taking through the overhead projector was provided. W...
Culture Tue, Mar 10 2009