Deaf Japan News

Deaf couple arrested for fraud in Kagawa Prefecture

2012-01-26T22:02:00.000-08:00

January 24, 2012

By January 23, the Takamatsu East Police Station arrested a Deaf couple, Sato Kiyoto (65) and his wife Sato Geraldine Mendoza (41) of the Philippines nationality who reside in Kimitsu-shi, Chiba Prefecture, as suspected for fraud.

They conspired plot with the part employee woman (59) from Takamatsu-shi, whom they have become acquainted with through chat on the Internet. Kiyoto said to her on video chat that he needed money to pay for medical treatment, and let her 800,000 yen transfer to his bank account.

According to the police station, the couple denied suspicion, saying that he planned to pay money and that it was only prolonging."

Japanese source:
http://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/kagawa_news/social/20120124000155

Interpreting to offer at briefing session for compensation of nuclear power plant disaster

2012-01-26T21:34:00.000-08:00

January 21, 2012

The Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA), the Fukushima Bar Association, and the Japan Disability Forum will hold the briefing session for the persons with disabilities and their families in Koriyama-shi, Fukushima Prefecture on January 29.

The organizing groups have noted that the procedure to demand for compensation, etc. may not have got across to the persons with disabilities who are the victims of the First Nuclear Power Plant disaster of Tokyo Electric Power (TEP) in Fukushima.

According to JFBA officials, TEP has sent a set of the compensation forms to the disaster victims, which were not printed in braille for the person with sight impairment. Many of the victims also complained: "I do not understand the difficult terms or vocabulary", "I don't know how to fill in the form," etc.

At the briefing session, two lawyers will explain problems peculiar to the person with disability such as aggravation of the disability due to the evacuation, the increase in needed support, etc.

On the day, sign language interpreting and note taking will be provided. Also the material to be distributed will be translated into braille.

Japanese source:
http://www.nikkei.com/news/category/article/g=96958A9C93819695E0E3E2E2908DE0E3E2E3E0E2E3E09180EAE2E2E2;at=DGXZZO0195583008122009000000

Film on DeafBlind woman made by sign language group in Kyoto

2012-01-25T22:48:00.000-08:00

Konishi Kimiko (center) directs Haida Chiyoko (right) at Chiyoko's home during the shooting.
(photo: http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/)

January 20, 2012

A sign language theater group in Kyoto is making the movie on the life of a DeafBlind woman, HAIDA Chiyoko (69), who played the leading role.

It is about her life-long struggle to regain the human relationship with people through the tactile sign language.

Saying "I want people to know how I have experienced pain and happiness," Chiyoko stood in front of the camera at her home where the shooting was taken. She was born Deaf and lost sight later about at the age of 50. Group members worked as a crew as well as a supporting actor.

Certified sign language interpreter KONISHI Kimiko (58) who wrote the scenario is the leader of the sign language theater group in Kyoto. She met Chiyoko 16 years ago, taking her out outside. She has learned the tactile sign language with Chiyoko, supporting her life, too.

Kimiko says, "since the support to Deafblind people lacks, many of them are isolated. They can regain hope by direct contact with people if there are understanding and a support."

Chiyoko and the group members embraced each other after the shooting was over. "Though I am unable to see the completed movie, I will remember our work, because we all shared every wonderful moment." Her eyes were wet with tears in the back of the sunglasses.

The film is being edited in order to run for 20 minutes to enter for "The Saga Deaf Film Festival," which the national sign language training center will host in Kyoto on February 25.

Japanese source:
http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/politics/article/20120120000027

Deaf owner opens new soup cafe in Tokyo

2012-01-24T23:38:00.000-08:00

Yanagi Masahiro
(photo: http://www.nhk.or.jp/)

Muroga Yasushi (right)

January 19, 2012

A cafe called "SingwithMe" that the staff are all Deaf opened in Tokyo at the end of December, 2011.

YANAGI Masahiro (39), the owner and manager who is born-Deaf, had advanced opening preparation since two years ago. He said, "I have wanted to have a cafe where Deaf people can feel comfortable."

His own experience was the chance to start this kind of business. "There are many cafes/restaurants where sign language is not understood even when to order food. which made me frustrated many times."

Masahiro, who had worked to support persons with disabilities to find a job, had felt the necessity for a place to work which a disabled person can be satisfied.

What he thought of was something like a cafe which the Deaf manages. However, when a few major franchise companies were consulted on opening a cafe. their reaction was negative.

They simply said, "Spoken conversation always comes in business. Since the Deaf cannot speak, it won't be business." So Masahiro was totally refused.

Fortunately MUROGA Yasushi, who owns a soup specialty store in Nagano Prefecture, offered help to Masahiro as he believed there would be a big chance in Masahiro's idea. "There is no store for Deaf persons to get relaxed while there are a number of people interested in sign language. So why not the things get together for business opportunities."

About 70 percent of visitors are office girls and college students from the neighborhood. Communication with a visitor is performed by using sign language or writing on the board. The information terminal portable in the register is set so that those who don't know sign language can make an order smoothly. There are some visitors who get interested in learning sign language taking advantage of coming to the restaurant.

Although a secured place for people with disabilities to work shows a spread every year, a store where all the staff are Deaf called is unusual like the cafe "SingwithMe".

Masahiro says, "I want to develop the system which supports a disabled person who starts business based on my own experience."

Japanese source:
http://www.nhk.or.jp/shutoken/ohayo/report/20120119.html

Social Cafe Sign With Me official site (Japanese):
http://signwithme.in/
Video (JSL):
http://vimeo.com/32662521

Fine arts vocational school offering overseas arts program to Deaf students in Tokyo

2012-01-23T21:45:00.000-08:00

January 19, 2012

The "Oriental Art School", located in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, has continued the philanthropy project since the summer vacation of 2002.

The school invites ten Deaf junior high school students in the city of Tokyo to experience fine arts overseas, for example, Britain, France, and China for about one week every year.

For the trip, the school staff also accompanies the group of Deaf students, visits the art museums and the historical buildings with the students, teach them how to sketch, and helps them sketch scenery.

The school held the arts work exhibition, such as landscapes which the former participants drew overseas, in September, last year.

A letter of thanks will be presented to the school from Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education on January 30 as it evaluated that their program shows a new possibility with future for the Deaf students.

The Art School had a Deaf student enrolled once in the past, which was the cause for their activity. The principal had thought, "In spite of being Deaf, the student had the sharp sensitivity through the eyes. As a fine arts vocational school, we wanted to start something for those Deaf students with few chances to go abroad."

The Art School will continue carrying out the program.

Japanese source:
http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/tokyo/20120119/CK2012011902000019.html

2012-01-22T21:11:00.001-08:00

Deaf barbershop owner in Gunma Prefecture

January 19, 2012

It has been 15 years since KIMURA Tomoyuki (39), who is born-Deaf, inherited the barbershop of trade in Shibukawa-shi, Gunma Prefecture. The shop is managed by three persons, his Deaf wife and an aesthetician Tomoko (39), and his mother Miyoko (67).

Tomoyuki barbered the man in his 50's for the first time as a haircutter after graduating from Gunma Prefecture School for the Deaf where he studied the barber course.

The customer who visits the barbershop first may be surprised at the gestural communication. Tomoyuki communicates with the customer in writing and gesture about the haircut style for about 5 minutes. After he finishes the cut, the customer checks in the mirror and shows the sign of "OK."

Many of his visitors are Deaf. Tomoyuki gives them a haircut and adjusts a hairstyle until he gets them to be convinced, and leaves record to his chart.

Tomoyuki has two hearing children, a fourth and a second graders in the elementary school. Their classmates with the backpack on the back visits the barbershop. Tomoyuki gets a text message on the haircut from their parents through cell-phone.

He has felt blessed with the job in the local community. "Even if these children grow up, they will continue wanting to have a haircut. For that purpose, I have to continue polishing state-of-the-art technique." With the sign-language interpreter, Tomoyuki eagerly goes out for attending a haircut workshop.

Japanese source:
http://mainichi.jp/area/gunma/news/20120119ddlk10070077000c.html

Coda, a signing singer and song writer

2012-01-22T20:24:00.000-08:00

Watanabe Rieko sings a song with sign language.
(photo: http://sankei.jp.msn.com/)

January 15, 2012

WATANABE Rieko, a Yokohama resident, is a singer-songwriter who expresses music and songs in sign language.

She lived with her Deaf parents and a younger sister in Ashiya-shi, Hyogo Prefecture. In 1995 when she was 12 years old, immediately after the Great Hanshin Earthquake hit Hyogo Prefecture, her apartment house was burned down. Her family evacuated to the nearby elementary school as a shelter.

Rieko run around to get food and water, vital information, etc. for her family everyday. She listened attentively to the announcement on distribution of lunch or drinking water in the shelter, and explained to her Deaf parents in sign language that she had used since she was a little girl.

While she was busy away and taking care of her younger sister, the surrounding people taught her parents by writing. Rieko was impressed by these people's kindness, and she came to dream of becoming a singer, saying "I would like to make people into a smiling face by favorite music."

Then, Rieko worked hard not only to play the piano and guitar, but to compose lyrics. When she was a high school student, she sung a song at the school cultural festival, later started the live on the street at Umeda, Osaka city, etc.

During singing on the street when she was 19 years old, she spotted a Deaf group, and signed while singing for them. One member of the group told Rieko, "I enjoyed a good song. The phrases were the best I had ever."

The event made Rieko decide to become a singer and song writer who composes a song and sing it in sign language so that the Deaf people could enjoy it.

Now, Rieko appears on the sign language program of Internet broadcasting, and gives a lecture in the whole country on her own experience with earthquake disaster as well as the song signed.

After Rieko gave a lecture in July, last year, the boy, who has taken refuge from the area where the Tokyo Electric Power Fukushima nuclear power plant is located, said, "I am impressed with your courage over the terrible experience with the earthquake.
I will do my best to overcome my own." Rieko was inspired with his comment, too.

She says, "it is my starting point that I survived the earthquake disaster by support from other people. I would like to continue the production of music which reaches out to a person's heart, and to carry out in requital for the kindness 17 years ago."

Japanese source:
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/affairs/news/120115/dst12011519490006-n1.htm

Deaf students' works exhibited at Kuraray Tokyo office

2012-01-18T22:55:00.000-08:00

January 16, 2012

The Kuraray Tokyo head office, as a part of philanthropy activities, is exhibiting the art works of students of the School for the Deaf, University of Tsukuba (Ichikawa-shi, Chiba) in the Kuraray Tokyo head office from January 16 till January 27.

Modeling works, such as pictures, posters, textiles, etc. which the students made, are exhibited in the visitor space.

The school is the only national school for the deaf in Japan that attracts Deaf students across the country who completed the high school program in order to study more technical knowledge.

The school had an idea to provide the chance with the students to contact with society ready to work as well as present themselves in the public, while the company had groped for the philanthropy activities in the metropolitan area efficiently.

Since 1999 the students' work exhibit and the company tour has been carried out in the company's Tokyo head office. The latter is scheduled for January 20, 2012.

Japanese source:

http://www.gomutimes.co.jp/?p=18847

Kuraray official site (English):
http://www.kuraray.co.jp/en/

School for the Deaf, University of Tsukuba official site (English):
http://www.deaf-s.tsukuba.ac.jp/english2/index.htm

Advanced courses in English:
http://www.deaf-s.tsukuba.ac.jp/senkouka/english.htm

Local hotel in Tokushima Prefecture opens a free gallery

2012-01-17T23:07:00.000-08:00

The "Public Gallery Senshukaku" with the works exhibited before the opening on January 16.
(photo: http://www.topics.or.jp/)

The "Public Gallery Senshukaku" with the works exhibited before the opening on January 16.
(photo: http://www.topics.or.jp/)

January 14, 2012

The Hotel Senshukaku in Tokushima-shi, Tokushima prefecture will open the "public gallery Senshukaku" on the first floor of the hotel which will be used for free on January 16.

The Gallery is intended to provide the local residents who enjoy hobbies to exhibit their works in the public space.

From January 16, the work exhibition jointly by the students of the Tokushima prefecture school for the blind and the prefecture school for the deaf will open.

Such an event is new because it is rare for a hotel to establish a free gallery for the local community in the prefecture.

The first works, including about 100 items of pictures and handcrafts made by these students, will be shown til February 29 in commemoration of the school building groundbreaking of these two schools.

Japanese source:
http://www.topics.or.jp/localNews/news/2012/01/2012_132650384405.html

Viscount Yamao Yozo and his involvement in education of the deaf (2)

2012-01-16T21:58:00.000-08:00

Yamao Yozo was hired to work on the engineering development by the Meiji Government. As he would be called the "father of mechanical/civil engineering" later, Yozo not only has established an institution of higher education (currently Tokyo University Engineering Faculty) to train experts in the field of engineering in the Ministry of Public Works in August, 1871, but also submitted the petition to found a school for the blind and mute to the Cabinet in September in the same year.

In the petition, Yozo stated that even in a country in Western Europe the spread of the relief measure for the poor and persons with disabilities including work and education was observed. Blaming the situation of the neglect in Japan on the other hand, Yozo also discussed that Japan should learn the West European system, educate the blind and mute and build a school to change the "unnecessary," that is, the persons with disabilities to "a useful member" to contribute to the national economic development.

Yozo's experience in Glasgow helped him write and submit the petition to found a school for the blind and mute. He explained; "There were mute workers when I worked at the shipyard in Britain. They actually worked very hard. They skillfully communicated in sign language and finger spelling, which I was able to understand. Because of the education, they were more capable than the hearing counterpart at the workplace."

Yozo's petition was not approved, but had an impact on the move to establish the first school for the mute in Kyoto in 1878. Yozo himself later would be involved in founding the school for the blind and mute in Tokyo in 1880.

English information on Yamao Yozo:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamao_Y%C5%8Dz%C5%8D

Yellow vests to be used for the Deaf at time of disaster

2012-01-16T21:37:00.000-08:00

Chairman Kanao (right) explains how to use the vest to the participants. [photo: http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp]

January 12, 2012

The Eastern Hiroshima Disaster Prevention Joint Council began to lend out a total of the 410 vests to 24 organizations concerned and others on January 11. The vests will be used by the Deaf residents and supporters in the four cities in eastern Hiroshima at the time of a disaster.

About 80 persons attended the loan ceremony held at Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Four organizations in the city received the vests.

The yellow vest is attached with reflective material. There are a word "Deaf" on the front and back of the vest to help the Deaf victim when asking for vital information or support.

Moreover, there is also another vest with the words "Supporter for the Deaf" to tell that sign language interpreting and note taking will be available.

A total of 580 copies of the two kinds of vests have been manufactured. The rest of the vests after the loan will be lent out to those who want. The council chairperson Kanao said, "there are some persons with disability who hesitate to ask for support. We hope the use of the vest will be helpful at the time of a disaster."

Japanese source:
http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/News/Tn201201120167.html

Viscount Yamao Yozo and his involvement in education of the deaf (1)

2012-01-15T21:58:00.000-08:00

Yamao Yozo


"Choshu Five" Yamao Yozo		(right front)

In the history of education of persons with disabilities in early stages of Meiji (1868-1912), the petition of foundation of the school for the blind and mute to the Cabinet in 1871, and the establishment of the Kyoto prefecture institute for the Blind and Mute (1878) are important achievements.

YAMAO Yozo is well known as he submitted the petition to found a school for the blind and mute. He also played an important role in the establishment of the school for the Blind and Mute in Tokyo in 1880.

Yozo was born to a rich farmer as the third son in Choshu Domain (present Yamaguchi Prefecture) in 1837. The Yamao family was originally from the samurai class.

Reverence for the Emperor and expulsion of the barbarians were up hung as a slogan in Choshu Domain. However, Yozo and other four samurai, including ITO Hirofumi and INOUE Kaoru, decided to go to Britain in response to the order of the domain lord, believing that getting to know an enemy better is important in winning the enemy.

The group of the Choshu samurai, with support of the British consul in Japan, the U.K. companies established in Yokohama, etc., went to Britain in 1863. They arrived in London safely and studied at the University College London.

As soon as Hirofumi and Kaoru learned that Choshu Domain was under the attack by the Allied Forces of the U.K., U.S., Dutch and France in the next year (1864), they returned home to persuade the domain lord about the Western European militaristic superiority.

Hirofumi would be selected as a prime minister four times, and Kaoru would be appointed to be the first Foreign Minister after the Meiji Restoration in1868. Both Hirofumi and Kaoru were a former student of YOSHIDA Shoin, a philosopher who had a Deaf brother.

However, Yozo continued to stay studying the British industry system for five years. After graduating from the university, he worked in the Napier's shipyard in Glasgow for two years, and at the time attended the Anderson's College (now the University of Strathclyde) night class, and returned home in 1868.

A Japanese monument was built by the University of London in 1993 to praise the "Chosyu Five." In May, 2003, the celebration monument of the five men' distinguished services was built in front of the Yamao Yozo's parental home in Yamaguchi-shi by the persons concerned who heard the monument in London from others.

English information on Yamao Yozo:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamao_Y%C5%8Dz%C5%8D

Political campaign for national election to broadcast with caption starting in 2013

2012-01-15T21:15:00.000-08:00

January 10, 2012

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications made the policy which will broadcast of political views with caption for the Upper House election in 2013, to promote the political right of the Deaf.

The ministry believed that there are some Deaf persons who don't understand, even though sign-language interpreting has been already provided in a part of broadcasts of political views.

Since time is required for the preparation, the ministry will introduce the policy in the proportional representation election, and expand to other national election.

Broadcast of political views is carried out for the Diet (Parliament) election and the prefecture gubernatorial election required by the Public Offices Election Law.

Each political candidate of the national election and the gubernatorial election states the political view on television.

Currently the video with caption is accepted only if a political party uses their own for the Lower House election single-seat constituency.

Japanese source:
http://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/politics/342493.html

English article: Deaf director records the deaf's stories

2012-01-13T21:38:00.000-08:00

January 14, 2012

Deaf director IMAMURA Ayako's filmography boasts movies about the lives of deaf people. She recently shot a documentary titled "Coffee and Pencil," whose main character is a deaf man who runs a surf shop.

He offers customers coffee with a smile, and starts communicating with them using gestures and writing. "Did you surf today?" he writes. The customers, puzzled at first, are soon drawn into a conversation with him.

The movie became the talk of Aichi Prefecture, her filming home base, and other areas. In March, the movie will be screened at a theater in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.

Read more (English source):

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120113005054.htm

Hearing actress appears as a Deaf girl in TV drama

2012-01-12T21:01:00.000-08:00

January 5, 2012

The Mainichi Broadcasting Network 60th anniversary drama titled "A Bride's Father" about the deep bonds of a father and his daughter will be aired at 21:00 on January 8.

A young hearing actress KIJITANI Shihori acts the Deaf daughter Mine. She naturally performs in sign language which she has learned hard. "The scenario is impressive and all the scenes are meaningful. This work absolutely makes you feel sincere."

A man Satoshi who breeds the cow for bullfighting in a village in Niigata Prefecture has lost the wife early, and lives with his father and his only daughter Mine.

A marriage proposal to Mine turns into cancellation and she travels to Tokyo heart-brokenly. She meets a hearing boatman Maru, at Asakusa in the city. Maru learns sign language and tell her how he likes her.

A Deaf university student attended at all shootings as an adviser for Shihori about a Deaf perspectives in daily living.

Japanese source:
http://mainichi.jp/enta/geinou/news/20120105dde012200071000c.html

Cosmetics producer to air TV commercials with caption on its merchandise

2012-01-11T22:43:00.000-08:00

January 6, 2012

Kao Company which deals with business involving cosmetics, beauty soaps, etc. will air a TV commercial (CM) with caption from the middle of January, 2012.

This company's CM will be shown in the variety shows of the TBS TV station first, and be expanded to more target products and other TV stations to air their CM one by one.

The company has judged that it would needed to devise how to appeal its merchandise in an advertisement to not only persons with hearing loss but also the aged.

Kao is the first to develop fully captioned CM in Japan. It produces its own CM and has already prepared 150 captioned CMs for popular products.

Kao official site (English):
http://www.kao.com/jp/en/corp/index.html

Group of Deaf Mothers formed in Yokohama

2012-01-10T21:43:00.000-08:00

(photo: http://www.townnews.co.jp/)

January 5, 2012

It is often difficult for the Deaf mother to talk with other mothers who are in the same generation about the child rearing. A group called the "Deaf Mothers' Group" was formed as a place of learning and socializing in November, 2011.

Four pairs of Deaf mother and child gathered in the "Baby Bar," a cafe designed for the Deaf mother and children, in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture in December, 2011. They discussed daily problems, exchanged information, etc.

Many of the participants worried about communication. It turned out that they hardly associated with the neighborhood or the area and wanted a place where the Deaf mothers gather to sharing the experiences in the child raising, etc.

The members will meet regularly, and the next meeting is scheduled for January 15, Sunday in the cafe.

MATSUMOTO Mari (30), a leader of the group, is bringing up two hearing boys (4 years old and 1 years old), and works full time as a clerk in a securities firm.

She says, "Work and child-rearing give me a good change though it is not easy to control my naughty boys."

Mari also believed a physical contact between a baby and its mother as one of the communications, and so obtained the qualification as a masságer for the baby and kid. She offers the technique for mother-child contact to the members.

Japanese source:
http://www.townnews.co.jp/0107/2012/01/05/130483.html

English blog: online games focusing students with disabilities

2012-01-10T03:04:00.000-08:00

January 4, 2012

Press release：

Katawa* Shoujo is a visual novel set in the fictional Yamaku High School for disabled children, located in modern Japan. Hisao Nakai, a normal boy living a normal life, has his life turned upside down when a congenital heart defect forces him to move to a new school after ... (see the following link)

http://katawashoujo.blogspot.com/2012/01/katawa-shoujo-released.html

Official site:
http://katawa-shoujo.com/

*Katawa means a disability in Japanese.

Deaf body boarder keeps challenge on

2012-01-08T23:24:00.000-08:00

(http://www.yumie.in/001_prof.html)

January 4, 2012

In December, 2010, HORI Yumie (38) was on the "body board" in Kujuukurihama in Ichinomiya-cho, Chiba Prefecture where the rough sea of midwinter rolls in.

She became deaf when she was two years old, overcoming the handicap: she was once ranked the 9th, the highest for a Japanese body boarder during the world tour in 2006.

Yumie, who has retired from the competition in 2009, currently practices again aiming at the International competition which will be held in Hawaii in February, 2012. She says, "I would not forget to challenge, staying as strong as possible."

While attending a vocational school without any future aim, Yumie was invited by a friend to enjoy the body board. "The sea is equal and brushes nobody off. I will do my best in this world." She made a decision to become a professional.

She passed the second protest at the age of 29 in 2003, and made shining records with a series of world tours. She sent a letter to a hearing-aid maker "Rion", the product of which she has used, for the sponsor contract in 2006.

Yumie joined the game for persons with disabilities, but she had a strong will to compete at the regular game to "prove that I can do despite of deafness."

She lectures on the body board at a school for the Deaf and encourages the Deaf youth to challenge themselves. Because she wanted to also teach the danger in marine life, she acquired the qualification of "Life Savers" in 2011.

Yumie held an event in September, 2011 and plans to use the proceeds from the event for a "Happy Surf School" program at the beach in Chiba Prefecture that the children from Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, a part of the stricken area, will be invited to experience marine sports this July.

Japanese source:
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/tokyotama/news/20120103-OYT8T00755.htm

Overseas mission visits schools for blind and deaf in Edo period

2011-12-28T22:54:00.000-08:00

The overseas mission visited the US Navy.
(photo: http://www.geocities.jp/satopyon0413/kaisetsu16.htm)

The Shogunate dispatched the overseas mission seven times around the end of Edo period to inspect a Western situation in addition to diplomatic negotiations. The first mission was to the U.S.A. in 1860, and the second to Europe in 1862-1863.

There are many records of personal experiences and reports by the delegates. The information about an educational system or a school appears abundantly in those diaries and records.

First, the mission to the U.S. A. visited the school for the blind, school for the deaf, or orphanage, and the members were strongly impressed.

For example, when they visited the New York School for the Blind in 1860, they observed the students touching the Braille with the fingers and reading. Reportedly 11 of 16 teachers were blind.

The mission to Europe also visited the orphanage, the school for the blind, and the school for the deaf in 1862. In the "Western Situation," published in 1866, the author Fukuzawa Yukichi who was on the mission mentioned the education method taken at the "institute for blind", "institute for the deaf", "institute for the mental retarded children", etc. in Paris. He founded Keio Gijuku University in 1865, currently located in Tokyo.

Mori Arinori was a foreign student in Britain those days, and became the first Minister of Education later. He mentioned his visit to the institute for the blind and the deaf in the country which deeply impressed him with the result.

Japanese Journalists also published a book on what they observed abroad between the late Edo period and early Meiji period. For example, MURATA Fumio wrote about an English school for the Deaf in his book titled "A record of personal experiences in England" in 1860.

In the westernization of Japan, the education of children with disabilities in Europe and the U.S. A. greatly influenced on the Japanese concerned.

HANAWA Hokiichi, Hellen Keller's role model

2011-12-26T21:44:00.000-08:00

Hanawa Hokiichi

Helen Keller (second from right)
(photo: http://denhichi.blog105.fc2.com/blog-entry-105.html)

HANAWA Hokiichi (1746-1821) was a Japanese classical scholar of the Edo period.

When he was 5 years old, he suffered from trouble with his eyes due to a gastroenteric disorder. His eyesight weakened gradually. He became blind at 7 years old.

Helen Keller was educated by her parents saying that she should "follow Hanawa as her role model" since the childhood.

When she visited Japan for the first time in April, 1937, she visited by touching the sedentary statue of Hanawa in the memorial hall in Shibuya, Tokyo (photo).

UTSUNOMIYA Mokurin: Deaf influential scholar for Shoin

2011-12-25T23:40:00.000-08:00

(http://www.city.kure.hiroshima.jp/mitekure/)

UTSUNOMIYA Mokurin (1824-1897) was another deaf person who had a great influence on Yoshida Shoin, a famous thinker.

Utsunomiya Mokurin (1824-1897), born in Kure-shi, Hiroshima Prefecture, was a priest. He suffered from serious illness in Osaka, and lost hearing at the age of 20.

In spite of being Deaf, he studied thoroughly Japanese literature, Chinese literature, and Buddhism. He traveled around in Japan, explaining the respect for the Emperor.

In 1855, Mokurin, aged over 30, visited Hagi City in Yamaguchi Prefecture. He had read a book written by YOSHIDA Shoin in prison, and had wanted to argue with him about the book.

Shoin yet did not mean to have an idea of "overthrowing the shogunate" those days. He rather took the position of "refraining from its overthrow", keeping the strict position as a subject to Tokugawa shogunate and his local feudal lord.

Mokurin asked for a meeting with Shoin. He was younger than Mokurin by 6 years, but declined to meet him. However, later both the men discussed through correspondences.

Then, 29-year-old Shoin was knocked down, seeing Mokurin's point and came to recite the "opening of the country, exclusion of foreigners" and "overthrowing the shogunate."

Shoin set up a plan to assassinate the senior shogunate councilor for the purpose of saving the noble-minded patriots arrested by the Ansei Purge in 1858, and was arrested by the shogunate.

He was seen off in Edo by the shogunate next year and beheaded. Mokurin got to know Shoin's unexpected death, angered and cried hard.

TANI Sanzan: Deaf scholar in late Edo period

2011-12-24T22:37:00.000-08:00

Tani Sanzan

There are two well-known Deaf scholars, TANI Sanzan and UTSUNOMIYA Mokurin, both who influenced Yoshida Shoin on the nature of Nation, in the late Edo period.

TANI Sanzan (1802-1868) was a Confucian scholar who educated many students in the later half of the Edo era.

He was born as the third son to the parents who owned a wealthy sake brewery in Yamatonokuni, one of the Japanese feudal countries (now Nara Prefecture).

Sanzan was weak, easily to get sick in the childhood. His eyes and ears suffered at the age of 11. His eyes recovered, but he lost hearing and became completely deaf at the age of 14.

He strove for study of the official Japanese history book. Since he was Deaf, it was impossible for him to take lessons from a hearing teacher, either, but he studied through books by himself. It is said that he read through thousands of volumes in 20 years.

Sanzan went out to Kyoto in 1829 and studied under a Confucian scholar named IGAI Keisho.

Sanzan opened a private school and educated many students including YOSHIDA Shoin in around 1835. Later his feudal lord of the Takatori clan in Nara Prefecture ranked Sanzan as a samurai-scholar.

Sanzan lost sight completely at the age of 48 by the relapse of the eye disease, unable to do reading and the conversation. He always sat leaning against the desk, and waited for a student coming. When the student came and knocked the desk, Sanzan held the hand. The poetry verses and the sutra were written on the palm while Sanzan lectured and discussed.

From that time, Sanzan criticized the policy of the Tokugawa Shogunate severely from the idea of reverence for the Emperor and expulsion of the barbarians (foreigners). He argued with Yoshida Shoin, who had a Deaf-mute brother, and others in writing for a long time in May, 1853.

Sanzan published his idea and theory on "reverence for the Emperor and expulsion of the barbarians."

When Commandore Perry, dispatched by U.S.President, came to Japan with the warships in September, 1853, Sanzen wrote a book and argued, "It is improper definitely for Japan to accept Perry's threatening demands to open the country."

Moreover, Sanzan presented research of Siam, China, etc., and many other laborious works.

Two months after the Tokugawa shogunate was dissolved in October, 1867, Sanzan passed away at the age of 66 on on December 11.

Deaf student wins the first prize at National Deaf School Art Contest

2011-12-21T23:21:00.000-08:00

Ikeda Yuyo with his art work (photo: http://www.ehime-np.co.jp/)

December 16, 2011

The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Prize (highest award) at the 16th National Deaf School Art Contest was awarded to IKEDA Yuyo's (14) for his work titled "The Big Tree."

Yuyo is a junior high school student of Eihime Prefecture Matsuyama School for the Deaf. To Ehime Prefecture it was the first time for the honor since 13 years ago.

The contest was sponsored by the Education and Welfare Association for the Deaf located in Tokyo.

Only one was selected from a total of 626 works submitted by the preschoolers through high school students from all over the country for the minister prize.

Yuyo's work was chosen also as the highest award of the section of junior high school and high school students (182 works in total).

He worked on the picture for about three months, an average of one hour or more every day, using watercolors of about 15 different colors and China ink to express the tree delicately and forcibly.

Yuyo received the certificate of merit from Councilor SANTO Akiko, president of the association, at the commendation ceremony in the school on December 16.

Yuyo explained, "I took pains to take out textures with a wooden fine trunk and was happy to win the highest prize."

Japanese source:
http://www.ehime-np.co.jp/news/local/20111216/news20111216290.html

Snowboard instructor to hold event for the Deaf in January

2011-12-19T21:13:00.000-08:00

Takamatsu Hanako calls for participation in the snowboard event with a poster in a hand.
(photo: http://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/)

December 15, 2011

In order to offer Deaf people to enjoy a snowboard, TAKAMATSU Hanako (32), a snowboard instructor whose activities are based in Sapporo in Hokkaido, will hold the "2nd Deaf Smile Snowboard Camp" for the Deaf beginners in the skiing area in Hokkaido on January 7-8, 2012.

Hanako not only competes at the All Japan Technical Championship every year, but works as a Class A instructor qualified by the Japan Snow Boarding Association (JSBA).

She had met a Deaf snowboarder in 2010, and begun to study sign language, which she passed the 5th level sign language examination. Since she wanted to spread a snowboard in the Deaf community, she held the event for the first time last year.

Hanako says, "I think that we can enjoy a snowboard together by writing to cover my poor sign language skill. I would like to make more plan for Deaf people to enjoy snowboarding in future."

Japanese source:
http://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/chiiki2/337940.html

Sugi Tshisaburo (1845-1876): Deaf-Mute brother of famous philosopher

2011-12-18T21:39:00.000-08:00

Yoshida Shoin

Sugi Toshisaburo

Sugi Toshisaburo was born Deaf-Mute at Hagi City, Choshu Domain (currently the Yamaguchi Prefecture) in 1845 as the third son to the lower class samurai Sugi Yurinosuke.

In the childhood, Toshisaburo communicated with the parents and siblings through writing or the use of home signs. Also he learned how to write and read from one of his uncles. It is said that the Japanese characters that he copied were very good.

Toshisaburo had an elder brother Yoshida Shoin (1830-1859) by 15 years senior. Shoin was a Choshu feudal clan samurai, a great philosopher and educator as well as a virtually spiritual theorist of the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

Shoin was adopted by the Yoshidas, thereafter his family name was changed to Yoshida. Toshisaburo had pockmarks on the face, but he was said that his look was like Shoin.

Toshisaburo always sat quietly by his father or Shoin whenever they read a book even if they all didn't communicate verbally.

Shoin entrusted his younger sister Chiyo and his disciple Kaneko Kensuke to educate Deaf brother when he was then 10 years old. Both Chiyo and Kensuke put everything they had into teaching Deaf-Mute brother through writing and connecting a thing to the word.

On the way traveling in Kyushu, a southern island of Japan, in December, 1850, Shoin stopped at Kumamoto and prayed piously in front of the Kiyomasa* Shinto Shrine at midnight that his Deaf-mute brother would be able to speak like himself.

*Kato Kiyomasa was a warrior and feudal lord of Higonokuni (currently the Kumamoto Prefecture) during the Toyotomi reign (ca. 1580's). It is said that he hardly spoke since birth until he started speech when grewing up.

Shoin has stated about his Deaf-mute brother in his paper in 1858. "My younger brother Toshisburo is 14 years old now, Deaf-mute since birth. He can copy a Chinese character, but reading and writing are impossible for him after all."

In January 1854 when Comparator Matthew Calbraith Perry stopped by in Japan for second time with his squadrons, Shoin and his fellow planned and tried to stow away on one of the squadrons, but failed. They were imprisoned at Hagi. Shoin was confined at his parents' home in 1855.

Two years later in 1857, Shoin became a master teacher at a private school, the Matsushita Village Juku (school) which his uncle opened, and taught the students who would be prominent leaders in the Meiji Restoration, such as Takasugi Shinsaku (courageous Chushu samurai), Ito Hirofumi (four-time Prime Minister), Yamagata Aritomo (field marshal in the Imperial Japanese Army and twice Prime Minister of Japan), etc.

Shoin allowed Toshisaburo to be present during his lecture at the school. Toshisaburo was quick, not much different from a hearing person, and also very so polite and gentle that hearing people would get embarrassed.

The Tokugawa shogunate ordered Choshu clan to send Shoin to Edo [current Tokyo] in 1859 due to the purge. Shoin was admonished to go to Edo by the guards in May, 1859. It is said that he clasped Toshisaburo's hands before the separation, giving him the last message with emotion coming up, "Every patience is the first".

Shoin confessed the assassination attempt on the shogunate top officer and explained about his own ideology, which led to punish him to decapitation at the age of 29.

Aware of being Deaf-Mute himself, Toshisaburo always refrained from visiting other friends, and earned a small amount by doing needlework. After the deaths of the male members, he faithfully kept the family tradition to holding a spiritual service of the ancestors, always making himself neat.

Toshisaburo died at the age of 32 on February 1, 1876.

Yoshida Shoin (English):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshida_Sh%C5%8Din

Singer talks about her Deaf son at event

2011-12-18T21:15:00.000-08:00

Singer Imai Eriko and her son Raimu at the talk show in Saga Prefecture.
(photo: http://mytown.asahi.com/saga/news.php?k_id=42000001112100005)

December 11, 2011

During the Human Rights Week on December 4-10, the "Human Rights Program" (sponsored by Saga Prefecture, etc.) took place in Saga Prefecture on December 10, and about 1000 people came.

At the talk show, IMAI Eriko (28), a member of the music group "SPEED," talked about her Deaf son Raimu, signing occasionally. She spoke the difficulty and the joy of child-rearing.

Raimu (7) joined her at the event. Eriko confessed how she had felt when he was born, saying, "I thought that I would stop singing since he didn't hear even if I sang."

However, Eriko started to learn sign language and watched his growth every day. "I came to think that he feels the song by seeing even if he cannot hear."

She concluded by saying, "I want Deaf people to spend every day with smile and think they can do somehow."

Books which introduced overseas information in late Edo period

2011-12-16T22:59:00.000-08:00

The world map titled "Konyozusiki" (坤輿図識) produced in 1847 by a Japanese geographer.
http://www.kufs.ac.jp/toshokan/gallery/ora-8.htm

Because of the national isolation policy of the Edo Shogunate, "Dejima" (出島) in Nagasaki Prefecture was the only place where the trade with other countries was allowed. Except China, the only Western trade partner was the Netherlands.

The Dutch books were brought to Japan through the Dutch trading house in Nagasaki's Dejima, and the "Dutch studies" on the Occidental new science and culture came into existence.

Japanese books that introduced the new knowledge including information on the institutes for the poor and persons with disabilities in Europe, etc. were published.

For example, "Koumou Zatsuwa" (literally "Red Hair Topics" (『紅毛雑話』) published in 1787 was written by Morishima Churyo (森島中良 1754-1810).

He summarized the talks of his elder brother and a surgeon of of the Edo Shogunate Katsuragawa Hoshu (桂川甫周) who heard from the Dutch visitors in Edo, the talks of the Dutch-studies scholars gathering in Katsuragawa's house, etc.

Mitsukuri Shogo (箕作省吾 1821-1847), a geographer and Dutch-studies scholar, made a map titled "Konyozusiki" (坤輿図識) in 1847. This document referring to geography books, such as "Algemeene Geographie (the Dutch version)" by J. Hubner, and "Geographische Oefeningen" by P. J. Prinsen, presumably had great influence on view-of-the-world formation of the intellectuals in the end of Edo Period. This map was said to be in personal effects when Yoshida Shoin* aimed at smuggling into the U.S. at Shimoda in Japan.

*He had a Deaf-mute brother named Sugi Toshisaburo.

Both the books possibly include information on the institutes or facilities for the Deaf-Mute in Europe.

Incidentally, in order to study in Nagasaki, many young persons visited across from the whole country, and learned at the private school which well-known Dutch interpreters opened for the Dutch studies. Out of them excellently talented individuals appeared in great numbers, contributing to the foundation of Japanese modernization.

DVD on Deaf parenting experience produced

2011-12-12T21:53:00.000-08:00

December 5, 2011

The Information and Culture Center for the Deaf, Inc. located in Tokyo produced the DVD titled "CODA: My Parents are Deaf."

While the information on Deaf parenting lacks, DVD introduces the process that both the Deaf parents and hearing children face troubles, overcome them, etc.

The production staff explains, "While preventing isolation of the Deaf parents who experience uneasiness in child-rearing, we would like to promote an understanding of society."

"Coda" means "Children Of Deaf Adults." It is said that about 90 percent of the children born to Deaf parents is hearing. They are brought up in sign language in a home, and use spoken Japanese outside the home in many cases. Some coda become a sign language interpreter after growth.

SHIBUYA Tomoko, a special researcher of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, has studied about coda. She suggested the production of DVD on the Deaf parenting problem.

Funded by Mitsubishi Foundation, DVD was produced for one and half year by the staff composed of hearing and Deaf persons, and coda.

DVD has five parts, such as the infant time, school age and adolescence, and the party concerned tells each experience. Their story shows the hint towards solution for the issues in the child's growth process.

In the part on the infant time, the Deaf mother, who is bringing up three coda, said that she was worried whether she should use sign language to her hearing children. Later she thought it over and believed that the sign language is an important language for the parent and child relationship.

The school-age part introduces a case: coda was given the homework by the teacher to read aloud at home. He sent the copy of a textbook to the hearing grandmother by fax and got checked on reading aloud over the telephone instead of his Deaf mother.

ITO Mio (30), president of "the group for raising coda," participated in the DVD production. She says, "Many Deaf parents are worried if they bring up coda in sign language, the spoken language development will be overdue."

Japanese source:
http://mainichi.jp/life/health/fukushi/news/20111205dde041040006000c.html

Deaf mother files suit for city rejecting interpreting dispatch as "illegal"

2011-12-11T21:52:00.001-08:00

December 5, 2011

The Deaf female office worker (40) of Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture applied for sign-language interpreting dispatch to the city in June in order to attend the briefing session for the guardian at the vocational school which her eldest daughter wishes to enter.

The city dismissed her application on the grounds that a dispatch place was Tokyo, etc. in July. The woman submitted the formal complaint with the city in August, which was dismissed in October.

It was learned on December 4 that the woman
was going to file suit for the city making a decision against the constitution, deviating from discretion of administrative power which is illegal.

Related organizations including the Japanese Federation of the Deaf have decided the full support to the woman, saying "This is not the problem of Takamatsu but the problem which occurred from the systemic defect."

The "group that considers sign-language interpreting dispatch of Takamatsu" just launched held the meeting in Takamatsu and appealed for cooperation to about 80 persons who gathered on the same day.

In the meeting, top-class officials from the Japanese Federation of the Deaf, National Study Association on Interpreting Issues, and Japanese Association of Certified Interpreters were present.

The lawyer in charge reported about the defense counsel will be formed by 23 persons from Takamatsu, Okayama, Tokyo, etc. and file suit by the end of February next year."

Japanese source:
http://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/kagawa_news/social/20111205000170

Deaf dance group members from Fukushima join charity dance event in Kawasaki

2011-12-11T21:09:00.001-08:00

December 4, 2011

"We want to tell through our dance that Fukushima is fine."

The dance group "D/FLAVOR" from Fukushima Prefecture performed at the event "D'LIVE," held in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture on December 3 which Deaf persons and others sang a song by dancing or signing.

Although the group members were unable to practice as much as before because of the accident of the first nuclear power plant of Tokyo Electric Power in Fukushima Prefecture, they showed the powerful dance before about 600 audience.

The "D/FLAVOR" was formed in Koriyama-shi, Fukushima Prefecture in 2007. Three of six members are Deaf. They dance while feeling sound with the body or getting help from other members when to take a step in dancing.

The group members have resumed practice in mid-May. Although a life is returning to normal, they avoid practices outside due to the space dose of radiation is higher in Koriyama than any other cities in the prefecture.

The group has been more often invited to a charity event across in the country.

Japanese source:
http://mainichi.jp/area/kanagawa/news/20111204ddlk14040152000c.html

2011-12-08T21:13:00.001-08:00

Sugimoto Marina prepares for the exhibition.
(photo: http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/)

December 3, 2011

SUGIMOTO Marina (25), a Deaf resident of Meguro-ku, Tokyo, will open a personal exhibition on December 19-24 in Ginza, Chuo-ku. Her 3D art works dealing with the scenery and children she saw in the street corner is the focus of the event.

She has been devoted to work for one year with determination to express honestly "the exciting feeling" she felt in the town and to share the feeling with the visitor.

She attends the graduate course of the fine-arts molding vocational school in Toshima-ku, Tokyo, aiming at becoming an illustrator.

About 40 works will be exhibited this time. She made illustration drawing with the personal computer after doing the sketch with the pencil. Her works, influenced by the work of the pop artist James Rizzi of New York, are 3D and multistory art full of a feeling from the lively motion of the person, etc.

Japanese source:
http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/tokyo/20111203/CK2011120302000048.html

Five hearing students reported to prosecutor for vicious mischiefs to Deaf person

2011-12-08T20:37:00.001-08:00

December 2, 2011

The Fukuroi City police in Sizuoka Prefecture sent the police report of the five boys attending the same junior high school to the prosecutor in the Hamamatsu branch, the District Public Prosecutor's Office, on November 30 on suspicion of theft and damage or destruction of a building.

The boys stole a total of five fire extinguishers in Fukuroi from August through October. Two of them burned the concrete block wall of the house in which the Deaf person lives by fireworks in August.

The boys had repeated the mischief called the "runaway ring," which one sounds the door bell of a house in the city and escapes, since June.

Since the light lit up and the people came outside whenever the boys pushed the door bell of the Deaf person's house, they liked to see the reaction as interesting.

The boys said that the Deaf person could not appeal against damage, either and that he was considered not to disclose it."

They later injected the fire extinguisher in the house from the open window, put fireworks on the concrete block wall, fire lit, pushed the door bell and escaped.

Japanese source:
http://mainichi.jp/area/shizuoka/news/20111202ddlk22040306000c.html

English article: Japanese Deaf woman as a dancer, teacher and choreographer in London

2011-12-05T21:29:00.001-08:00

Friday, Dec. 2, 2011

Deafness no barrier for choreographer

By WILLIAM HOLLINGWORTH

Kyodo

LONDON — Despite being deaf, a Japanese woman in London is forging a successful career as a dancer, teacher and choreographer.


Visual beat: Chisato Minamimura teaches choreography to students in London in October 2010. KYODO PHOTO

Chisato Minamimura uses her own unique methods to create works of contemporary dance that have been performed in Britain and across the world.

English source:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111202f1.html

Interpreting coordinator faces difficulty at financial deficit

2011-12-05T20:58:00.001-08:00

November 30, 2011

In Saga Prefecture the difficult situation to secure the full-time coordinator for interpreters continues because of lack of the funds. The prefecture budget allotment for the coordinating project entrusted to the prefecture association of the Deaf remains in a small amount.

Although the interpreting is indispensable at the lecture meeting, etc., the coordinator has been forced to be placed in an unstable status.

MINAMISATO Tomie (67), the present coordinator, works 9:00-17:00, dealing with requests for interpreter dispatch by a telephone or fax. She, who also interprets, has been supported by several members of the sign language circle. The number of dispatch in the last fiscal year amounted to 424.

According to the association of the Deaf, the basic allowance which Tomie receives is 120,000 yen per year. With other daily allowance, she earns about twenty yen in total. Her work might be likely described as a volunteer.

Because of financial difficulties, the prefecture funds only 388,000 yen, and Saga City provides also less than 1 million yen.

Tomie insists, "The working environment which can be committed by under exclusive contract as a coordinator is required when to recruit."

Japanese source:
http://mainichi.jp/area/saga/news/20111130ddlk41040407000c.html

First medical examination for the Deaf starts in Saga Prefecture

2011-12-04T23:21:00.001-08:00

The Deaf person (left) understands the nurse's medical question through interpreting (center).
(photo: http://www.saga-s.co.jp/)

November 30, 2011

Saga City in Saga Prefecture began the medical examination for the Deaf on November 30. The city has allotted the sign language interpreters in the prefecture medical association geriatric-diseases prevention center in the city for the oral consultation and a place for the medical check, etc.

The medical examination for the Deaf is the first trial in the prefecture. The note-taking service for a hearing loss person will be provided. The medical checkup will be carried out again on December 17. Prior reservation is required.

On the day, three sign language interpreters supported five Deaf clients. The oral consultation, such as "Do you want a dental medical checkup?", "What do you keeping in mind for health maintenance?", was interpreted.

A Deaf client was unaware of being called by the doctor for his/her turn until now, but this time the interpreter told the Deaf client when called. In the stomach cancer medical checkup, the radiological technologist directed the client how to move the body by gestures.

One of the client (80) said, "I didn't understand what I was supposed to do correctly only by the paper described about the medical checkup. I was happy that the interpreter helped me understand better this time. I think the city did a good job."

Japanese source:
http://www.saga-s.co.jp/news/saga.0.2093763.article.html
＿＿＿

More Deaf people hired in customer services such as shops

2011-12-01T23:12:00.001-08:00

Shioda Tomohiro (24), who is on the Deaf soccer national team, works at the UNIQLO store in the building next to JR Chigasaki Station (Kanagawa Prefecture). He hard of hearing, talks and lipreads well.

At the cake shop "Laporte" inTokyo Station, the customer orders by using the touch panel as the Deaf staff looks on.

November 29, 2011

Because it is hard for the Deaf to communicate with hearing people, service trade is thought to be unsuitable for their employment. However, more Deaf people work with some consideration in shops.

Eight item of sweets is sold in the cake shop called "Laporte" in one corner of the passage on the Japan Railway Tokyo Station first basement level. When the customer orders what he/she wants to buy by inputting on the touch panel on the front counter at the shop. The Deaf staff gets the order after looking at the touch panel.

"Laporte" opened in 2003 as the JR East Japan retail network promoted to hire more Deaf persons. There are a shop in Tokyo Station and Yurakucho Station, respectively and a total of eight Deaf women work presently.

The major garments company "UNIQLO" has promoted the employment of persons with disability as its slogan, "More persons with disability at one store." Over 90 percent of the 850 "UNIQLO" stores across the country hired persons with disability. About 30 percent of them are Deaf. Their work doesn't differ from other hearing coworkers such as reception besides cleaning or merchandise management.

Deaf persons work also in a coffee chain "Starbucks." Moreover, other coffee shop opened by a welfare group in a region hires Deaf staff.

However, in the whole business, it is still a small number of Deaf workers. The Law Concerning Employment Promotion for Disabled Persons requires a company with 56 or more employees to employ not less than 1.8% of disabled persons.

The actual employment rate is going up every year according to the investigation of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the average of the workers with disabilities is 1.65% as of June. Many Deaf people are employed in the field such as a production process.

MIZUNO Eiko, a senior researcher of the private research institute, explained, "although it tends to assume that communication with a customer is difficult for a Deaf worker, it is desirable not to limit an occupation to those eager Deaf persons but to improve their workplace environment. It is important for not only a company but also society and consumers as a whole to deepen an understanding of the workers with disabilities. "

Japanese source:
http://mainichi.jp/select/wadai/news/20111129k0000e040065000c.html

Finnish Deaf rap artist holds free concert in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture

2011-11-29T21:58:00.001-08:00

Signmark (central right) meets visitors after the concert.

(photo: http://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2011/11/20111129t15032.htm)

November 29, 2011

Signmark (real name: Marko Vuoriheimo) of Finland, internationally known as a Deaf rap artist, held a free concert on November 28 in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture to support disaster victims including disabled persons. About 60 people participated in the event.

Europe Trade Minister Alexander Stove of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, who has visited the stricken area in Japan before the performance, greeted at the event.

He announced that there was a proposal from a Finnish corporation to contribute a Moomin Park in Sendai. Seventeen playground equipments in the form of Moomin characters will be presented.

Signmark introduced himself, saying, "Even if I was not able to hear, I had strong will to do music, and realized the dream."

He showed the message song with sign language. The participants enjoyed the music with good tempo, learning how to dance with it.

Deaf judo training camp held in Okinawa

2011-11-28T20:46:00.001-08:00

Yamada Mitsuo (left), captain of the National Team for the Deaflympics, practices with a hearing judoist.
(photo: http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-184458-storytopic-2.html)

November 25, 2011

The Japanese Deaf Martial Art League which aims at being enlisted to the Deaflympic judo match is holding the training camp from November 24 in Okinawa Prefecture. Eight Deaf judoists have participated for five days.

They aims at getting higher rank advance in the Asia-Pacific Deaf sports meet (May, 2012, South Korea) and the World Deaf Martial Art Championship (August, 2012, Venezuela) as the standard of the national team selection.

They participated in joint exercise with the Okinawa Shogaku High School judo club on November 24. YAMADA Mitsuo from Shiga Prefecture, the gold medalist in the 100 kilogram category of the Deaflympics in 2009, is the only one who has been selected to the National Team.

A hearing judoist who practiced with Mitsuo said, "He is very good. I believe he became strong because he has had great passion for judo and worked hard."

Former teacher of Deaf children works on project for Deaf university students

2011-11-27T21:36:00.001-08:00

November 23, 2011

After retirement, TAKADA Keiichi (63), a former teacher of the Prefecture Tottori School for the Deaf in Tottori-shi, Tottori Prefecture, had learned that some of his former students led student life in disappointment. Only a few universities offer the note-taking service by the university personnel.

Keiichi did not want these Deaf students feel miserable or frustrated with study, starting a project in October, 2008 to interview and take photos of Deaf university students to find out in order to get many people interested in their actual environment.

Keiichi has already met about 50 Deaf students at 19 universities in 15 prefectures. He will visit more Deaf students at universities in the area hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake in the near future.

He said, "there are 1000 or more Deaf students attending colleges/universities in the whole country, but their serious issues are seldom known. I hope my project will help their academic environment improve."

Japanese source:
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/kyoiku/news/20111122-OYT8T00574.htm

Deaf students perform first hip-hop dance in public

2011-11-24T22:30:00.001-08:00

Students in practice

November 11, 2010

At the Hyogo Prefecture Himeji School for the Deaf located in Himeji City, 15 high school students are shedding sweat to practice the hip-hop dance.

Although they cannot fully catch music, they have learned how to dance through memorizing the every movement that the coach showed, with the full use of the the vision.

The students are enthusiastic in "heaping up the audience by fine performance" in the upcoming school cultural festival scheduled for November 19.

The high school has performed a play, the Japanese drum performance, etc. for the cultural festival every fall. The hip-hop dance as the first trial was added to the program, and the students began practice in April this year.

Prior to the cultural festival, the group of students made the public performance at the "31st Himeji welfare festival" in the park in Himeji City, making the audience excited with their dynamic performance on November 3.

Japanese source:
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/hyogo/news/20111118-OYT8T01270.htm

Consideration for Deaf person as a supplement lay judge

2011-11-23T21:09:00.001-08:00

November 18, 2011

A Deaf person was chosen as a supplement lay judge for the first time in Naha District Court of Okinawa Prefecture for the lay judge trial held on November 15-17 in the District Court. He participated in trial through interpreting.

According to one of four interpreters concerned, since the arrangement was done in advance by the court, the public prosecutor, and the lawyer, trial and consultation progressed duly. The Deaf lay judge also said that he could get through.

In court, proof by the crunched intelligible data and technical term was performed in trial as agreed by the prior arrangement. At the place of consultation, each lay judge was asked to speak at a time so that the interpreting might catch up, and the use of a white board and a memo, etc. were considered for the Deaf lay judge.

HIGA Tsuyoshi, a board member of the Okinawa Association of the Deaf, watched the trial and said that although it was probably based on the Deaf person's ability, it was good for him to understand by showing intelligible data at this time.

Japanese source:
http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-184198-storytopic-193.html

"ILY" strap presented to people in stricken area

2011-11-22T21:57:00.001-08:00

Hiroko Noritomi and the children who wrote the message on the card attached to the strap.

The home-made "ILY" strap
(photo: http://www.tokachi.co.jp/news/201111/20111116-0010999.php)

November 16, 2011

NORITOMI Hiroko (68) of Obihiro City in Hokkaido who has tackled the activity to enhance an understanding of Deaf culture. She made a "ILY (I-LOVE-YOU)" strap for mobile phones to present to the stricken area of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The strap which tucked up about 800 pieces is due to be sent before Christmas.

Her Deaf son, Hideto (42), managed a shop called the Deaf Culture Village to show Deaf arts culture and history in the city for a year since July, 2004. Hiroko was not happy about the closing of his shop and began making a stuff with the ILY sign, a symbol of the shop, since 2005.

She tucked up about 10,000 pieces of the "ILY" stuff until now, and had presented them to schools or facilities. Her wish was people who took the strap in their hand would become gentle.

Hiroko watched the TV program on the situation of the stricken area, and instantly thought what happened to the parents without their children, and to the children without their family. She thought that she could only present something to them. So she added a heart-shaped piece to the design of the "ILY" strap.

It takes about 4 hours to make one strap. Hiroko underwent the operation for her breast cancer in June, last year, continuing to make more pieces of the strap with care for her health condition. She says with a smile, "This is a good rehabilitation for me, as well as the source of my cheerfulness."

In order to send the strap with an encouraging message, Hiroko had the elementary school children to write a message on November 14. They wrote the message each in their own way, such like "it is OK," "Your living will be certainly recovered," etc.

Church members in Obihiro City will present the first set of straps on November 20 on her behalf when they visit the stricken area, and the second by Hiroko's friend who plans a visit on December 5.

Deaf social worker insists to assist living of Deaf persons in stricken area

2011-11-20T21:24:00.001-08:00

November 10, 2011

YANO Koji (55), vice president of the Japanese Association of Deaf Social Workers, has engaged in disaster victim support of the Great East Japan Earthquake. He explains, "The stricken areas have so few people who sign or take a note that the Deaf disaster victims have been forced to experience inconvenience. Long-term assisted living is necessary for them."

In order to investigate the situation of the Deaf suffering the calamity and their living after the earthquake, Koji and other supporting groups interviewed 125 individuals in 11 cities and 9 towns in Miyagi Prefecture from April through June.

About the mental condition, it became clear that 28 persons had amnesia, earthquake drunkenness, and insomnia temporarily, etc. Moreover, eight persons answered that they lost the job.

When Koji visited a certain shelter, a Deaf evacuee continued signing to him for 2 hours about the occurrence of the earthquake and tsunami. Koji says, "While hearing persons discuss what they have experienced immediately, the Deaf cannot, so they feel very unstable and anxious."

About the situation at the time of suffering the calamity, some Deaf persons also answered that they were unaware of the tsunami warning since disaster radio was no accessible to them, even though they knew the earthquake hit immediately."

There is also a case which Deaf individuals cannot get along in a new community well even after they move into a makeshift house. Koji says, "Deaf people may be misunderstood easily. I would like concerned persons to know the actual condition of these Deaf disaster victims."

Research: Artificial hearing without artificial power

2011-11-20T20:43:00.001-08:00

October 25, 2011

Kyoto University press release:

Researchers find that a battery-free cochlear implant can generate auditory responses in deaf animals. Current cochlear implants partially restore hearing in people who have inner ear hair-cell damage with a series of electronic sensors, actuators, and a battery power source.

Senior Lecturer Takayuki Nakagawa at Graduate School of Medicine in Kyoto University and colleagues built a membrane implant using a material that generates electricity in response to bending, and inserted the device in the cochlea of deafened guinea pigs.

Sound transmitted through the guinea pigs’ ear canals generated vibrations in the membrane, which created electrical pulses that varied with the sound frequency. The membrane’s sound tuning aligned similarly with tuning in the inner ear’s basal membrane, the researchers report. In other tests, the researchers artificially stimulated the implants and recorded auditory brain stem activity in electrodes placed under the animals’ skin.

The researchers suggest that the device could be described as the “technological regeneration of [inner ear] hair cells,” but caution that the device’s electrical output must be increased to stimulate auditory primary neurons in the ear like current implants. Together, the results suggest that one day deaf patients may be able to use small prosthetics that mimic natural cochlear function, without the need for a battery. The results were published in PNAS.

Link to the journal paper:
externalhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1110036108
Inaoka T, Shintaku H, Nakagawa T, Kawano S, Ogita H, Sakamoto T, Hamanishi S, Wada H, Ito J. Piezoelectric materials mimic the function of the cochlear sensory epithelium. PNAS 2011 ; published ahead of print October 24, 2011, doi:10.1073/pnas.1110036108

English source:
http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/news_data/h/h1/news6/2011/111025_1.htm

YouTube: Asimo introduces itself in JSL

2011-11-16T23:05:00.001-08:00

2011 Honda Unveils All new ASIMO - Sign Language Using Arms and Multi Fingered Hands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCUvVW5NU8E

English Article: Robot Asimo helping, signing

2011-11-16T22:29:00.001-08:00


Asimo shows a sign, "I love you." (Credit:Honda)

Honda's humanoid robot Asimo can now run faster, hop around, autonomously avoid people, and communicate in sign language with its new hands.

In the first major update to the droid in four years, Asimo has improved AI skills, being able to operate continuously without human control, and also has better locomotion, and a remarkable 57 axes of movement.

English Source:
Asimo does bottles, lovey-dovey hand gestures
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57320941-1/asimo-does-bottles-lovey-dovey-hand-gestures/http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57320941-1/asimo-does-bottles-lovey-dovey-hand-gestures/

First Deaf rugby international match held in Nagoya - Japan lost

2011-11-16T22:15:00.001-08:00

(photo: http://www.asahi.com/sports/update/1105/NGY201111050008.html)

November 5, 2011

The first Deaf rugby international match between the Japanese team "Quiet Typhoon" and the Australian team "Silent Knights" was held in the rugby field in Nagoya on November 5.

Although Deaf rugby has the same rule as general 15-person Rugby, the assistant referees with a red flag instead of a whistle stood near the goal of both sides to tell discontinuation of the play.

The Japanese team was beaten by 3-22. They challenged the opponents of large build with the low tackle, and endured the pinch near the goal repeatedly.
As soon as they took the penalty, they moved forward from the quick restart, but did not lead to a score.

Related link:
Deaf Rugby team prepares for the first international match in Japan
http://deafjapan.blogspot.com/2011/10/deaf-rugby-team-prepares-for-first.html

Coffee shop in Osaka City open for the Deaf social exchange

2011-11-16T21:44:00.001-08:00

November 2, 2011

The coffee shop "Deaf Cafe Easy Sign Language" located in Osaka City, where Deaf persons visit freely for a chat, is popular. The shop is managed by a non-profit organization called "Deaf Support Osaka" which has offered services including counseling, sign-language interpreting dispatch, etc.

Twenty or more people per day at the most visit the coffee shop. Some persons come even from distant places, such as Ehime Prefecture and Tokyo.

The "Deaf Cafe" was opened in 2006. Many Deaf persons were denied by the general coffee coffee shop owner, because their signed communication often disturbed other hearing customers.

The "Deaf Support Osaka" staff decided opening "to provide the place in which Deaf persons exchange daily living information freely." Now, there are some persons who visit the Deaf Cafe almost every day.

Hearing persons are also welcome. When ordering some food or drink, they must use pointing on the menu list. A sign language lesson is available for 500 yen during the opening hours. Works by a Deaf customer are also exhibited for sale in the shop.

Japanese source:
http://mainichi.jp/area/osaka/news/20111102ddlk27040495000c.html

Deaf persons trained as "trimmer" for dogs

2011-11-02T23:31:00.000-07:00

October , 2011

Deaf persons are trained to become a "trimmer" for dogs in a facility that is managed by the Shiga Welfare Association of the Deaf.

Since the training was begun in April, 2007, regular customers who let their pet used for practice are increasing in number. It is said that ten dogs are groomed a day.

A trimmer not only does a cut, a shampoo, brushing, nail clippers, etc., but also performs the healthy check of the skin, etc., and gives the customer a chart.

OGASAWARA Chizuru, who has instructed since July, 2010, has a grooming history of 26 years. While teaching how to groom a dog, she learned sign language.

She says, "It isn't easy for Deaf trimmers to deal with a pet that is sensitive to sound, but their work from hard training is very good."

A charge for pet grooming is abut 4000 yen depending on kinds of dog, and it has acquired popularity from the dog lovers.

Six persons are currently trained at the facility. One trainee has acquired qualification and found a job at the specialty store.

Japanese source:
http://mainichi.jp/area/shiga/news/20111027ddlk25040527000c.html

Woman arrested by falsehood report using cellular texting service for the Deaf

2011-11-01T23:06:00.000-07:00

October 31, 2011

The Osaka Prefecture Police Ikuno station arrested the 31-year-old hearing woman of Osaka City who notified a falsehood by cellular texting message on October 31.

Around 4:55 a.m. on October 14, she apparently notified that the apartment was burning, using the cellular texting service for the Deaf and blocking the operation of the Ikuno station and the Osaka Prefecture Police communication direction division.

According to the Ikuno station, the woman says that she has not reported" and denies suspicion. There were about 100 false text messages in her cellular phone since September.

Bandanna produced to support the Deaf at the time of disaster

2011-11-01T00:11:00.000-07:00

The bandanna to be used by Deaf persons at the time of a disaster

October 28, 2011

Kumagaya-shi in Saitama Prefecture produced the bandanna for disaster relief of the Deaf.

Deaf person and those who sign show the bandanna to get support immediately from the surrounding person at the time of disasters, such as an earthquake.

The disaster radio broadcasting, etc. is not accessible to the Deaf. The disability of Deaf people is so invisible that it is hard to get help easily and their refuge may be overdue.

It is said that there was a request for a measure from the Deaf community in the city in response to an Great East Japan Earthquake.

Based on the donations from city financial institutions, the city manufactured the bandanna with cooperation of the Kumagaya Association of the Deaf and the Kumagaya sign language circle.

Japanese source:
http://www.saitama-np.co.jp/news10/28/08.html

Name "Japan" discovered in China as possibly the oldest example

2011-10-27T22:12:00.000-07:00


Name of "JAPAN" (日本）atop in center

(photo: http://www.asahi.com/culture/update/1022/TKY201110220586.html)

October 22, 2011

The paper which introduces that an epitaph found in the ancient city, Hsian, in China has Chinese characters with "Japan" (日本) was published in China.

The epitaph is a slate in which the deceased's achievements are inscribed before being buried in the grave.

It is supposed that the epitaph found was made in 678.

It has been a big mystery of Japanese ancient history that when the name of the country "Japan" came to declare oneself.

Although the view that the name was used in Taiho Codes in 701 was leading, if the epitaph is a genuine article, it will go back further.

The Japanese call their country "Nippon" in Japanese, and write "Japan" in English.

When was first Japanese Sign Language used ?

2011-10-26T22:16:00.000-07:00


"Hokoku Festival Folding Screen	"


Men (center) use sign language? ("Hokoku Festival Folding Screen")

We don't know when Deaf people started using sign language in Japan, only when the first school for the Blind and Deaf-mute was formed in Kyoto in 1878.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536 -1598) was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period (1467-1573). He unified the political factions of Japan.

In the summer of 1604 when it was the 6th anniversary of Hideyoshi's death, a special grand festival was held for eight days at the shrine, Hokoku jinja, in Kyoto.

KANO Naizen, the retained painter of the Toyotomi family, painted the "Hokoku Festival Folding Screen", which is designated as the important cultural property.

The rows of houses of Kyoto of those days and people enjoying the festival with richly and freshly expression, etc. are drawn in the folding screen.

Okamoto Inemaru, a former teacher of Deaf children in Kyoto, pointed out that the scene of men who look at fingers each other is in the screen.

He mentioned that it seemed that they communicated in sign language saying "We will go tomorrow" if regarded as the sign language.

Aoki Mokubei: famous deafened potter in Edo period

2011-10-25T22:57:00.000-07:00

Aoki Mokubei (1767-1833) was a potter and literati painter in the Edo period.

He was born in Kyoto and his real name was Aoki Sahei.

At an early age he studied with the great scholar and seal carver Ko Fyo (1722-1784). He later studied pottery and soon became famous for his reproductions of classic Chinese-style ceramics.

Mokubei (木米) had judged the temperature of the kiln with a sound emitted from the fire in it. Therefore, his ears always swelled up in red.

Literati painting

Since he didn't change the technique and continued chinaware making so that there was no time for complete recovery.

He lost hearing in later years and used his new name Robei (聾米: Deaf-bei) instead of Mokubei (木米).

He also gained fame for his literati paintings.　

Teacher wins prize at invention exhibition in Yamagata Prefecture

2011-10-25T22:35:00.000-07:00

October 21, 2011

The 46th Yamagata invention exhibition is open on October 21-23 in Sakata City, which 240 works are exhibited. It is sponsored by the prefecture chapter of the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation, the prefecture, Mainichi Newspapers Yamagata branch office, etc.

A lot of the works, such as power generation, disaster prevention, ecology goods, etc., are seemingly affected by the Great East Japan Earthquakes on many young inventors; a "seismograph" which makes sound or shines when shaken, a "disaster prevention best" with many pockets for drinks, a towel, valuables, etc.

KAMIO Tomoharu, a teacher of the Prefecture Yamagata School for the Deaf, invented a device for the Deaf students that changes the sound of the pistol into light when it is shot at the track and field. His work won the Governor prize in the category of the school staff.

Japanese source:
http://mainichi.jp/area/yamagata/news/20111021ddlk06040102000c.html

Basic education for Deaf children in Edo period

2011-10-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

There was a private elementary school, called "Terakoya", during the Edo period, generally run by one teacher.

According to the investigation based on the interview with the elder, the Deaf and Blind children were educated, too, at Terakoya.

Among 3,090 schools, 266 schools mainly accepted the Deaf and Blind children, and children with physical disability were also included.

In order to teach the Deaf children, the teacher collected daily necessaries, toys, picture books, etc., and taught Chinese characters by connecting with a thing or a picture. The teacher made the pupils skilled in writing Chinese characters gradually.

Moreover, the skilled Deaf pupil was able to communicate with a hearing person in writing about what he wanted to say.

It is unknown about how many Deaf children were educated at Terakoya. However, each such goodwill promoted the education of Deaf children in Japan.

Lecture meeting by doctor who signs to be held in Tokyo

2011-10-24T22:03:00.000-07:00

The Study Group of Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will hold a lecture meeting in Tokyo on November 3, 2011, 13:30-16:00.

Dr. HIRANO Koji, the lecturer, began learning sign language in his high school days, and became a certified sign language interpreter.

He graduated from the medical department, Tohoku University in 1990, and opened an otolaryngology clinic in Tokyo in April, 2004. He has been involved in medical activities for the Deaf.

He is also acting as a board member of the "Medical Network for the Deaf/HoH" (MNDH) which is a nationwide network organization of the medical staffs who study health care problems of the Deaf/Hoh.

Dr. Hirano will talk about his various experiences as a doctor, and MNDH activity, etc.

Story of three men with disabilities in Edo period

2011-10-23T22:31:00.000-07:00

SHIBATA Kyuo (1783-1839) from the merchant class was good at mentality in the late Edo period.

He explained the right path in an intelligible way introducing the example in daily life, taking advantage of his own experience as a professional storyteller.

However, from around 1826, his eyesight declined rapidly and he became blind completely.

Notes of his lecture were taken by his son in colloquial style, and published in 1835 and afterward.

"Kyuo dowa," one of the books has a story which Kyuo discerned each disabled person's mentally aspects.

The story goes:
A long time ago, a blind man, a physically disabled man, and a Deaf man became intimate, and they drank together.

If the blind man sings, the physically disabled man takes rhythm by clapping his hands. The Deaf man stands and dance. They all enjoyed themselves.

While the three men are enjoying drinking, there was a fire in the neighborhood, and it was a big fire.

Although the blind man heard people crying, he did not know the direction to get off.

Although the physically disabled men found a blazing fire, he was already unable to stand up. The Deaf man had turned the back to the fire, and did not know what it was about at first. He was calm.

When the three men became desperate for escape, a man ran to them at this time, and had the blind man carry the coward physically disabled man on the back first, and then had the Deaf man took hold the blind man's hand.

The physically disabled man on the back pointed and taught the Deaf man where the exit was. He finally knew it was a fire, and was greatly surprised, pulling the hand of the blind man in hurry. They were able to get the fire through.

The story tells a lesson that it is important to help each other and cover a fault mutually.

Group of cochlea implant users requesting for financial support to Shiga Prefecture

2011-10-23T22:02:00.000-07:00

October 20, 201l

NOSE Kihei, president of the Association of Persons with Cochlear Implant, and others visited the Shiga prefecture office on October 19, demanding the office to influence in the Government, etc. towards support of the purchase of the big-ticket main part of apparatus, or insurance application.

Nose and TOMIOKA Katsumi, vice president, said to the person in charge who received them in the office, "While there is support to the hearing-aid, the aid to the persons with cochlear implant is ceased if he gets serious, which is strange. We would like you to understand our actual situation." They submitted a letter of the request addressed to the governor.

According to the association, insurance for the cochlea implant is applied to required accessories, but not the main part of apparatus which costs around 1 million yen. This is a great burden for them when the apparatus is found to be a failure or updated.

It is said that there are 120-130 users in the prefecture, and that younger than 18 years old accounts for 60 percent.

The support system of the main part of apparatus is spreading in the country. There is also an example with support of the maximum of 1,100,000 yen in Kumamoto Prefecture. In the Shiga prefecture, Koka City is supporting the maximum of 200,000 yen.

Japanese source:
http://mytown.asahi.com/yamaguchi/news.php?k_id=36000001110200002

English article on 'Subtitle glasses'

2011-10-21T23:06:00.000-07:00

English article reported by news media:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/21/2465324/subtitle-glasses-to-debut-at-tokyo.html

'Subtitle glasses' to debut at Tokyo film festival

By NANA ANDO
The Yomiuri Shimbun

TOKYO - Olympus Corp. and a nonprofit organization have jointly developed special eyeglasses that project subtitles on the lenses so the hearing impaired can enjoy Japanese movies.

A type of head-mounted display (HMD), the glasses will be unveiled at the Tokyo International Film Festival that runs through Oct. 30.

The device was developed by the Tokyo-based precision equipment maker and the non-profit Media Access Support Center, based in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture.

MASC has been working to provide better access to information for people with hearing difficulties by promoting captions for films and DVDs, and is providing captions from its Web site through the iPhone to the device.

According to MASC, subtitles for the hearing impaired need to include not only dialog but also information on who is going to speak before actors deliver their lines. It also needs to explain to viewers about footsteps, honking horns and other sound effects.
As it costs at least 1 million yen per film to print these subtitles, few films provide them. Only 51 of 408 new releases in 2010 had the special subtitles.

Theaters showing these films are also limited, especially in rural areas. Since the subtitles may annoy non-impaired viewers, the films are generally shown only for about two days even in metropolitan areas.

Mitsuhiko Ogawa, 49, vice director of Tokyoto Chuto Shiccho Nanchosha Kyokai, an association for people with hearing disabilities, said films give people with hearing problems an important opportunity to relate to other people and society. "It would be great if we were able to go see a movie with anybody, anytime, anywhere," Ogawa said.

Even if the HMD comes into wide use, however, scripts for subtitles still have to be made for each film. MASC director Koji Kawano, 48, said making HMD subtitles costs less than one-fifth of usual subtitles as the HMD subtitles do not have to be printed on film. "The problem is who bears the cost," he said.

Kawano stressed films with HMD subtitles will also be good for seniors with hearing difficulties. He said demand could be increased by expanding the HMD's functions to allow the use of foreign-language subtitles.

English article on deaf woman with four languages

2011-10-21T22:55:00.000-07:00

An English article reports on a Deaf woman who speaks four languages.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/people/AJ2011102115431

Language is no barrier for hearing-impaired woman

October 22, 2011

By AKI FUKUYAMA / Staff Writer

Kim Surim learned to speak Japanese, English and Spanish after she lost her hearing when she was only 6 years old.

Kim Surim

Today, at Credit Suisse Securities (Japan) Ltd. in Tokyo, the 39-year-old Seoul native talks with her supervisor in Japanese and communicates in English at meetings.

"I cannot hear the voice of my daughter, but I am happy if I can hear the voice of her heart," Kim said of her 3-year-old daughter, speaking in fluent Japanese.

She acquired the three non-native languages by reading people's lips. She learned how to pronounce words by imitating the movements of their mouths. "A life itself means facing up to challenges," she said.

Kim was taken care of by a relative after her parents separated when she was 2.

She came to Japan when she was 12, following her mother. However, her mother was working all day, leaving Kim to an acquaintance.

She learned Japanese while reading manga and novels to ease her loneliness. Kim thought that she might be able to do the same with other languages.

She went to Britain to study English after graduating from high school. She quit a major paper manufacturer when she was in her 20s and learned Spanish while wandering through 30 countries.

She learned how to roll her tongue to pronounce certain sounds by asking conversation partners to show her their tongues.
At one time, she collided with a wall because she was looking at someone's lips while they were walking.

Credit Suisse valued her language skills and hired her four years ago to check whether stock transactions are conducted in compliance with laws and regulations.

Her colleagues are from as many as 30 countries.

This spring, she published a book, "Mimi no Kikoenai Watashi ga Yonkakokugo Shabereru Riyu" (Reasons why I can speak four languages although I cannot hear), from Poplar Publishing Co.

She is donating part of the proceeds to a movement to promote dogs for the hearing impaired.

Temple to remember the DeafBlind child in Edo period

2011-10-20T22:16:00.000-07:00

There is a story about the temple called Yuteiji in Osaka, established in 1755.

A boy was born to a rich merchant of Sakai, OYAMA Yakube, in the Edo period. But the baby was DeafBlind that made his parents wail.

They worried about the poor child's future, purchased land, and built magnificent residence.

Though they made the child enable to live carefree throughout life, the parents were not satisfied, thinking something missing.

They considered many things to make themselves satisfied, but there were no means to solve their trouble. So they visited Honganji Temple in Kyoto to consult.

The priest took over the child's education. He made the child grasp a Buddha statue first. Then wondering, the child stroked it with his fingers, and seemed to be happy.

After a while, the child found the mercy of Buddha for the first time, and felt joy from the bottom of his heart. Unfortunately, he passed away at the age of eight. How deep his parents' sorrow!

Getting the name "Yutei" for the child's Buddhist name, the parents prayed to Buddha for him everyday. The residence in which they lived while praying for the child's bliss became a temple.

New bus friendly to the Deaf in Yamaguchi Prefecture

2011-10-20T22:00:00.000-07:00

Deaf group tries on the sound and the sonority condition of sound in the magnetic loop loading bus.

October 20, 2011

In order that deaf and hard of hearing passengers use the bus in comfort, Hagi City in Yamaguchi Prefecture has carried the equipment which raises the sensitivity of a hearing-aid using magnetism to two updated "Hagi loop-line buses". They will begin operation on October 21.

According to city officials and the apparatus maker, the installation of the magnetic loop system to the bus is the first in the whole country.

With the system, the sound of an announcement in the bus or a chime is collected with a microphone, and a clear sound with less noise can catch with a hearing-aid through the magnetic loop antenna constructed under the floor of the bus.

This system has been progressively introduced even in the court of a lay judge trial, a theater, a concert hall, the movie theater, and the baseball field.

At the ceremony for the delivery of the buses on October 19, six Deaf persons rode on the bus for a trial. Yuki Yamamoto (68), president of the Hagi Society of the Deaf, changed the switch of the hearing-aid, and was surprised that she was able to hear the announcement clearly. "This kind of bus would be good for people who are elder and hard of hearing."

Source (Japanese):
http://mytown.asahi.com/yamaguchi/news.php?k_id=36000001110200002

Deaf haiku poet in the Edo period (1600-1868)

2011-10-19T22:04:00.000-07:00

SUGIYAMA Sampu (1647-1732) is known as a patron of MATSUO Basho (1644-1694), one of the best haiku poets in the first half of the Edo period (1600-1868).

Sampu, who was the owner of a fish wholesale store under the Tokugawa shogunate, supported Basho's life with his economic strength.

He was Deaf and weak by birth. Though it is unknown when he followed Basho to study haiku, he was one of Basho's ten best disciples.

The "Basho's hermitage" was the guardhouse of the fish preserve possessed by Sampu who provided when Basho moved to live in 1680. Also Sampu and his fellow paid to build the home for Basho who returned to Edo from a long trip in Eastern Japan. Sampu took care of his master Basho over twenty years until Basho passed away.

Basho was sad about his favorite disciple Sampu being Deaf, and once mentioned about him: "Sampu did not use deafness-related phrases, which made himself more respected and elegant in the haiku style."

We don't know exactly how Sampu communicated with his master and fellows, but reasonably in writing for the communication.

American code of ethics for sign language teachers translated in Japanese

2011-10-19T00:02:00.000-07:00

October 18, 2011

Code of ethics for persons engaged in sign language instruction or interpreter training never exists in Japan.

The Sign Language Teacher Center, Inc. has believed that the code of ethics is needed for Japanese sign language teachers and interpreting trainers, and has translated the "Code of Ethics of the American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA)" into Japanese.

The Center is thinking to develop its original code of ethics, referring to ASLTA, etc.

ASLTA's Code of Ethics translated in Japanese:
http://www.jsltc.org/%E5%8F%82%E8%80%83-%E5%80%AB%E7%90%86%E7%B6%B1%E9%A0%98/

ASLTA Code of Ethics in English:
http://www.aslta.org/node/27

Caption system for Japanese movies developed

2011-10-18T22:59:00.000-07:00

October 17, 2011

The Media Access Support Center, Inc. (MASC) has been working on the Japanese caption on a movie or DVD.

MASC has developed the caption system for Japanese movies jointly with a precision machinery maker, "Olympus". The system will be used for the first time at the "Tokyo International Film Festival" which will be open from October 22.

With the small head-mounted display (HMD) used like glasses, caption emerges in the space in front of the screen.

When the caption information is on the website of MASC and HMD is connected to a cell phone unit "iPhone", caption is sent through iPhone.

According to MASC, it is necessary to put in the name of a person before he or she speaks, or to explain sound effects, such as a footstep and a horn of a car, in written form in the movie for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

Because a captioned movie is very costly, such as 1 million yen or more per work, the number of captioned movies is limited. Out of 408 new Japanese films, only 51 have been captioned in 2010.

Also, especially there are few theaters in rural areas to show the captioned movie, and since caption on the screen is troublesome to the hearing audience, the captioned movie is usually shown for only two days in the metropolitan area.

Deaf beggar drawn in old picture scroll (1712)

2011-10-16T21:53:00.000-07:00

Although we can figure what the life of a person with disability was like those days, which is easily found in the corner of an old picture scroll and genre painting, it is hard to look for the Deaf person who does not appear in these materials.

A picture of the Deaf beggar is found in the 10th volume of the "Japanese-Chinese Illustrated Assemblage of the Three components of the Universe" (Wakan sansai zue: 和漢三才図絵). Also it includes a statement that describes about deafness and muteness.

The illustrated encyclopedia was edited by Terashima Royan (dates unknown), an Osaka physician, and completed in 1712. It includes chapters covering astronomy, geography, plants, clothing, implements, and other topics.

100 years later, Kobayashi Issa wrote a haiku poem about a Deaf beggar as mentioned in the previous blog.
(Haiku poem on mute beggar in Edo period: http://deafjapan.blogspot.com/2011/09/haiku-poem-on-mute-beggar-in-edo-period.html)

Priest describes the needs of the Deaf in communication (Edo period)

2011-10-13T23:14:00.000-07:00


Takuan Sōhō

Tokai-ji Temple

Yellow pickled Daikon radish that carries the same name, "Takuan"

Takuan Sōhō (沢庵宗彭：1573 -1645) was a major figure in the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism.

He was the first abbot of Tokai-ji Temple in Edo (now Tokyo), which was constructed especially for the shogunate, the Tokugawa family during Edo period (1600-1868).

He has also been credited with the invention of the yellow pickled Daikon radish that carries the same name, "Takuan," which most of the Japanese love to have.

Takuan, who wrote the essays well, states that even if a person is Deaf, he can understand what is said in writing.

He has proved that writing as a communication tool for the Deaf is valid for effective communication.

He also wanted to show that the Deaf are not necessarily stupid or incompetent, as well as communications between the Deaf and hearing persons are meaningful in writing for business.

Moreover, Takuan points out that educating the Deaf should be done with the use of visual clues including a character.

----

Call for voting on logo name of the 2012 World Deaf Table Tennis Championships

2011-10-13T22:01:00.000-07:00

The official logo of the 2012 World Deaf Table Tennis Championships
(http://2012wdttc.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/wdttc2012.gif)

For the name of the official logo to be used specifically for the 2012 World Deaf Table Tennis Championships (WDTTC), which will be held at Tokyo in April, the WDTTC secretariat has chosen five names from a large number of the name submitted, as follows:

1. Hope
2. Tappy
3. Tahwin
4. Takkun
5. Tappin

The voting deadline is at the end of October, 2011.

The result of vote will be released by on the WDTTC official website, and "The Japan Deaf News," an official newspaper of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf.

WDTTC official site (English version):
http://2012wdttc.org/?page_id=130

Born Deaf-mute as principle of retribution in Edo period

2011-10-12T23:56:00.000-07:00

Suzuki Shosan

Zen teacher of the Soto sect

Suzuki Shosan (1579-1655) was a Zen teacher of the Soto sect and story-book writer in early stages of the Edo period.

Born in Mikawa (now part of Aichi Prefecture), he belonged to the direct vassal of a shogun who served the Tokugawa family.

He always considered life and death from his samurai days and became a Zen monk at the age of 42.

He contemplated on Buddhism as one of the believers, used the story book in Kana (Kana Zoshi) which was in fashion those days for those believers, writing the "Unfortunate Tale" (『因果物語』1661), etc. to explain the Buddha's teaching in an easy way.

In this tale, Shosan wrote:
"A certain person took the secondhand thing out of the temple dedicated to the Kannon, and made it firewood. By the punishment. his child born was mute."

Shosan described the principle of retribution, again here. Found is the influence of the Buddhism thought of those days about the deaf and mute, which therefore was believed by many people at that time.

Refrerences (English):
Suzuki Shosan:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_Sh%C5%8Dsan

Kana Zoshi:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanaz%C5%8Dshi

Deaf Rugby team prepares for the first international match in Japan

2011-10-12T22:51:00.000-07:00

October 11, 2011

The first international match against the Australia team will be held in Aichi Prefecture on November 5, and in Osaka Prefecture in November 12 as the top League opening performance game.

Prior to the event, the three-day training camp for the Japanese all-star team of Deaf rugby held in Tokyo ended on October 10.

The hearing Japanese team failed to win the World Cup, and the Deaf Japanese team challenges the victory at the international match.

Captain KURATSU Keita (23) vowed the victory with a smile on the final day of the training camp. "The Japan Team didn't win the World Cup, but we will certainly."

He had joined the National High School Rugby Championship in Hanazono, Osaka when he was a student at Tokai University Shoyo High School, and has studied abroad in New Zealand. His team is called the "Silent Typhoon."

The international match in Fiji has been arranged since two years ago before being called off. Instead the Australian team will visit Japan, which will be the first international Deaf rugby match in history in Japan. The Japanese team is united for victory.

Although the Silent Typhoon is not an official team which the Japanese Rugby Football Union recognizes, Keita says, "We will fight on behalf of Japan."

Related link:
Deaf rugby team training in preparation for international championships
http://deafjapan.blogspot.com/2010/05/deaf-rugby-team-training-in-preparation.html

Traditional entertainment in Muromachi period (1333-1568)

2011-10-12T00:41:00.000-07:00

Kyōgen (狂言) is a form of traditional Japanese comic theater, developed alongside Noh, a traditional play which entertained the shogunate and the warrior lords in Muromachi period (1333-1568).

Kyōgen plays are invariably brief – often about 10 minutes, as traditionally performed between acts of Noh – and often contain only two or three roles.

Also the kyogen plays are mostly comedies. Sometimes, the persons with disabilities play a main role in the play.

One of the kyogen is related to the persons with disabilities is titled "The Three Disabled Men" (三人片輪).

One rich merchant advertised in order to employ a disabled person. A blind man, a man with physical impairment, and a Deaf-mute man came to the merchant.

Actually, these three men were gamblers who lost money from the gamble, and they behaved as if they were disabled.

The merchant, unaware of who actually they were, ordered them to guard the clothing storehouse, the sake cellar, and the vault, respectively, before he went out on business.

Then, the three men decided to drink what they liked in the sake cellar and steal money in the vault to gamble once more.

They got drunk and danced, completely forgetting that they played as a disabled man. When the master came back home, the men got back in a flurry to act like the disabled person, but their plan was then disclosed. These panicked men run away.

This comic play with old terms is so inappropriate and discriminatory that some of the Noh groups rarely perform it nowadays.

Hearing dog trainer from Taiwan studying training system in Japan

2011-10-12T00:03:00.000-07:00

Rim Minkin (left) with the candidate dog visits Arima Moto, JHDD president (back), in Nagano Prefecture.
(photo: http://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/nagano/20111005/CK2011100502000115.html)

October 5, 2011

Rim Minkin (28), a hearing dog trainer for the working dog project at the National Ping Tung Uiversity of Science and Technology in Taiwan, with her Taiwanese candidate dog is studying the training system at a government-certified organization the "Japan Hearing Dogs for the Deaf" (JHDD) located in Miyata-mura in Nagano Prefecture, for three days from October 4 to spread the hearing dog activity in Taiwan.

To train a hearing dog in a public transportation facility or a city area is required for the registration of a hearing dog based on an international standard. However, the law of Taiwan doesn't allow such training. So Rim has to visit Japan to study how to train the trainer and hearing dog training process in Japan in order to spread the activities in Taiwan.

ARIMA Moto, JHDD president, visited Taiwan in June, and trained the seven-month-old Taiwanese dog. The training will continue.

Rim said, "People need to understand about the hearing dog in my country. We want to enhance the knowledge to them." Arima encouraged her by saying, "The spread of hearing dogs will be accomplished for sure, if you do your best even in Taiwan."

Zen Buddhist monk mentions on Deaf people

2011-10-10T22:31:00.000-07:00

Dōgen Zenji, a Zen Buddhist teacher

(photo: http://www.eigenji.com/soutou_founder.html)

Dōgen Zenji (道元禅師: 1200-1253), born in Kyoto, was a Zen Buddhist teacher in the Kamakura period (1185-1333).

He founded the Sōtō school of Zen in Japan in 1244 after traveling to China and training under the Chinese Caodong lineage there.

He is known for his extensive writing including the "Treasury of the Eye of the True Dharma" or "Shōbōgenzō" (正法眼蔵), a collection of ninety-five fascicles concerning Buddhist practice and enlightenment. The Shōbōgenzō is his masterpiece.

Another collection of his talks is the "Shōbōgenzō Zuimonki" (Gleanings from Master Dōgen’s Sayings: 正法眼蔵随聞記) in six volumes. These are talks that Dōgen gave to his leading disciple, Ejō, who became Dōgen’s disciple in 1234. The talks were recorded and edited by Ejō from 1235 to 1238.

Dōgen Zenji comments on Deaf people in the Gleanings from Master Dōgen’s Sayings:
"You sit in religious contemplation in a Buddhist temple, without chatting with other people, just like a Deaf or mute person. What is necessary is only to sit in religious contemplation."

Also he wrote for one of his disciples, who kept training himself with his words as follows:
"Because the Deaf people don't hear, they don't know what is going on in the world;
As they have nothing to worry, their heart remains pure:
As they don't emit any words, there is no worry that they face a calamity."

New-styled subway train for friendly environment in Nagoya City

2011-10-10T21:52:00.000-07:00

New model N3000 type train introduced into the subway in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
(photo: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/aichi/news/20111006-OYT8T01378.htm)

October 7, 2011

The new model "N3000 type" train with six cars will be used for the Nagoya City-owned subway Tsurumai line for the first time in 17 years on October 10.

The train is lighter compared with the conventional trains, less power consumption by the use of a light emitting diode (LED), and more friendly environment to a persons with disability.

On new train, the wheelchair space was installed in each car. Also the lamp which blinks simultaneously with buzzer sound are attached to the door so that the Deaf person might know the timing for the door to be closed.

The purchase price of the train with six cars is about 900 million yen. The new train will start running in the end of March, next year. From now on, the City Traffic Bureau will be planning to introduce one train every year.

Blind persons playing active part in the middle ages

2011-10-09T22:49:00.000-07:00

Blind biwa minstrel

There was already an organization of the Blind from the Muromachi period (1333-1573), and especially the blind biwa minstrels were playing an active part.

The medieval Japanese prose narrative "Heike monogatari" (The Tale of the Heike) is the magnificent literary work about the rise and fall of the Heike family (warriors) ruined by the rival warriors the Genji family who later established the government in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture in 1185.

The tale was narrated by the blind person playing the biwa, and it came to be loved by even the populace at large, rather than read.

AKASHI Kakuichi (明石覚一: 1330-1371) was praised as the blind expert as a biwa minstrel who summarized this tale in the present form.

It is reported that he was a cousin of ASHIGAKA Takauji (1305-1358), the founder of the Muromachi government in Kyoto.

Kakuichi worked aiming at improvement in the social standing of the Blind including a biwa minstrel, and formed the guild system for the blind.

In contrast, there was no social or vocational organization for the Deaf at that time.

Request for improvement of Deaf driver's license acquisition conditions

2011-10-09T22:28:00.000-07:00

The sign that the Deaf driver must stick on his car to indicate "Deaf driving."
(photo: http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/shakai/0004525827.shtml)

2011/10/05

The profound Deaf person become able to get the driving license with the Road Traffic Law revision in 2008, but there has been little increase nationally.

According to the Hyogo Prefecture Police, only 15 profound Deaf person have acquired the driving license in the prefecture as of the end of July, 2011 after the revised law enforcement.

The Prefecture Police license division, etc., said that there was 409 holders of license after revised law enforcement in the whole country as of March 2011. In the prefecture, there are 5,500 or more candidate over aged 18.

It has been pointed out as a reason that the profound Deaf driver must display the designed sign when driving, and that sign-language interpreting is not provided when taking a written examination.

MURAKAMI Yoshifumi (39), a Deaf Himeji-City resident, has continued failing the written examination, giving up getting the driving license. He said, "I want to have the written questions in the examination interpreted using a monitor, etc."

If the hearing-aid is used, the disability sign will be unnecessary, but Yoshifumi fears, "Will the Deaf driver discriminated because of the sign?"

SHIMAMOTO Kyoki (34), Director of the Hyogo Association of the Deaf in Kobe City, said, "We Deaf people always check around with our own eyes. We never get into any trouble with a siren on the road." He appeals for more revision of acquisition conditions as equal as non-disabled people.

Moreover, the shortage of driving schools which accept a Deaf person is also one of the reasons for the "slow increase." There are only 5 schools that offer the interpreting service out of 58 appointed driving schools in the prefecture.

The James Mountain Driving School, the only one school with the signing staff in Kobe City, said, "We had one inquiry from the profound Deaf person who wished license acquisition in three years."

The person in charge of Prefecture Police has also said, "We do not think that the number of driving schools with the interpreter is insufficient."

However, Yoshifumi pointed out, "although we would like to go to the driving school with an interpreter, the five schools are not enough. It is ideal that every driving school has an interpreter."

Reviewing such the present condition, the National Police Agency announced the reform bill of the Road Traffic Law, aiming at the the enforcement in April, 2012.

Related links:
-Revised Road Traffic Law Allows Deaf Drivers To Drive Without Hearing Aids
http://deafjapan.blogspot.com/2008/08/revised-road-traffic-law-allows-deaf.html

-Road Traffic Law Revised: Only 45 Deaf persons granted driving license for a year
http://deafjapan.blogspot.com/2009/12/road-traffic-law-revised-only-45-deaf.html

Deaf painter's 100th birth anniversary arts exhibit in a crisis

2011-10-07T00:21:00.000-07:00

The Iwate prefecture art museum in crisis of holding the Matsumoto Shunsuke arts exhibition.

Matsumoto Shunsuke, Deaf oil painter

(photo: http://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2011/10/20111005t75012.htm)

October 5, 2011

It is doubtful of holding the round exhibition which five art museums had planned for next year in the country, such as the Iwate prefecture art museum in Morioka-shi, in commemoration of the 100th birthday of MATSUMOTO Shunsuke (松本竣介: 1912-1948), a Deaf oil painter who had lived in Morioka-shi and Hanamaki-shi, Iwate Prefecture.

Because of the influence of the Great East Japan Earthquake, there is a possibility that the planned exhibition project budget of the Iwate prefecture art museum may be frozen again next year.

Each art museum is expected to share the expense to hold the round exhibit, and when one of these museums is missed, the project will be failed. The persons concerned have insisted, "Shunsuke was a popular artiest associated with Iwate, so we want to hold the exhibition somehow."

According to the project plan, the round exhibition will be a large-scale retrospective exhibition which exhibits about 100 oil paintings and sketches among Sunsuke's works.

Shunsuke was born in Tokyo and moved to Iwate Prefecture at the age of two. He lost hearing at the age of 13, and began oil painting. He left the Morioka High School at the age of 17, and went to Tokyo. He joined the Pacific Oil Painting Society (太平洋画会研究所), mingling with his hearing contemporary artists. He painted mainly urban scenes and also worked on a self-portrait.

Encouraging picture presented to Fukushima School for the Deaf

2011-10-05T23:43:00.000-07:00

The picture shows the white stork which is said to send a fortune and an encouraging message in the center. (photo: http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/tajima/0004522579.shtml)

October 4, 2011

At the National School Principals Association meeting which was held after the earthquake disaster, the principal of the Fukushima Prefecture School explained the confused situation of the school at the time of disaster emerging.

UEDA, principal of the Toyooka School in western Japan who attended the meeting, had encountered the typhoon in October, 2004 when he was a vice-principal. Although the first floor of the school building was flooded and teaching materials and equipment sank, he received support and encouragement from schools for the Deaf all over the country.

For this devastating disaster, Ueda suggested that not only in the contribution, but "We would like to give support which gets across to the heart", and proposed to make something like a picture.

Twenty-four kindergartners and middle school students finished the colored paper work with one-thousand folded paper cranes over three weeks. They sent it to the Fukushima Prefecture School on October 3.

The topsoil of the schoolyard containing a radioactive material was removed in the Fukushima Prefecture School in August.
However, the physical education class in the outdoors is presently restricted partly.

Receiving the gift from Toyooka, the vice-principal said with a gratitude, "We feel the depth of bonds. Although we have still influence of the nuclear power plant disaster, we would like to do our best."

Deaf European Parliament member to lecture on European disability measures in Tokyo

2011-10-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

In Japan, important disability-related laws --- The Basic Law for Persons with Disabilities, the comprehensive welfare law, and the anti-discriminatory law --- are currently discussed.

During his visit to Japan, Mr. Ádám Kósa, a Deaf European Parliament member, will give a presentation on the European policies and legalization related to the persons with disability to offer the better picture of future Japan to the concerned individuals and groups.

There will be two events with Mr. Kósa.

1. Theme: Disability laws
- Date:
October 19, 2011, Wednesday, 13:00-16:30
- Place:
Auditorium of the House of Councillors Office Building (the first floor) in Tokyo

The Nippon Foundation and the Japanese Disability Forum (JDF) sponsor the event.

2. Theme: Sign Language Law

- Date:
October 22, 2011, Saturday, 12:30-16:30
- Place:
Itami Aiphonic Hall in Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture

This even will be organized by the Hyogo Prefecture Association of the Deaf.

Both events are free admission.

English link:
http://kosaadam.hu/en/

Deaf woman volunteers to help people in earthquake disaster stricken area

2011-10-05T00:49:00.000-07:00

September 28, 2011

SUZUKI Akiko (39), a Deaf-born woman from Saitama Prefecture, is an office worker, and has been tackling support of people in the stricken area by the Great East Japan Earthquake in March.

Akiko was interested in the volunteer activity in her high school days. She had the chance to participate in the volunteer project for the East Japan which the Saitama City Social Welfare Council organized in June.

She has been denied the volunteer activities because of deafness many times, but she applied for the project, feeling anxiously if they would reject her again.

She has volunteered to work twice a month since June, working to clear the debris up in the area, etc.

Through the volunteer project, Akiko has experienced many difficult times. She said, "Even if the disaster victim talked to me at first, I behaved as if I understood him or her. I communicated only with my friends in writing."

Through her frequent visit to the stricken area, she has become confident in herself little by little. She said, "Every time I see those people smile, I feel like to help them more. They have changed me, for I used to be shy."

Akiko's husband Ken-ichi (41), and three daughters understand why she works as a volunteer and support her, too.

Akiko said, "Support of reconstruction in the stricken area requires a lot of time. I hope even we are disabled, we want to do something for the disaster victims."

Middle Ages: Principle of Retribution in Buddhism

2011-10-03T23:48:00.000-07:00

The "Kamakura period" (1185-1333) and the "Muromachi period" (1333-1568) in Japanese history are similar to the Middle Ages in Europe.

These periods are so called from the place where the political power by the warrior class was established in Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture and Muromachi in Kyoto Prefecture, respectively.

Moreover, these periods were permeated by the Buddhism spread even to the ordinary people from the aristocrat class, governing the center of their life.

The idea of retribution in Buddhism thought affected the persons with disabilities most. This is the idea that a certainly bad result is brought about, if a bad cause is made. If used as a warning for not making a bad thing, it would be good. However, conversely in practice, if the person carried out the bad thing and as a result he will be blamed or punished.

Usually it was also common about the responsibility before the person is born. The tendency to dislike the abnormal appearance of a person strengthened at that time. Since such an inferior view on the person with disability was connected, a person with disability and his or her family had to live with patience or hardships.

Meanwhile, because of the Buddhist belief that if a person performed a good deed while alive, he or she would be rewarded after death, it was customary for people to donate those who were poor or in trouble.

Although there is no telling whether it was achieved as full-scale relief, the record exists that temples and individual priests were making relief work, respectively.

Hard of hearing climber reaches 100th mountain in Hyogo Prefecture

2011-10-03T22:19:00.000-07:00

Kagawa Masaichi succeeded in reaching the top of the 100th mountain in Hyogo Prefecture
(photo: http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/shakai/0004508830.shtml)

September 14, 2011

KAGAWA Masaichi (64) , a Kobe City resident in the Hyogo Prefecture, traveled across 100 mountains in the prefecture over about one year and four months.

He lost hearing in the right ear because of a high fever when he was six months old. He uses the hearing aids in daily life.

He retired a drug company at the age of 60, and started thinking of mountain climbing once he had given up. He set up a goal to climb the 100 mountains in Hyogo Prefecture.

He begun climbing first on May 28, 2010. Every time he climbed a mountain, he marked the mountain in red on his map.

In mountain climbing by a Deaf/hard of hearing person, danger lurks. He cannot hear warnings of hearing mountaineers. Also it is difficult to ask for help.

Before climbing, Masaichi decided a route after studying the map and made a plan carefully checking other mountain-climbing records. He stuck the red tape as a mark at the turning point to avoid lose his way in the complicated mountain trail, either.

On September 13, 2011, Masaichi reached the summit on the last and 100th mountain "Miharaisan" (祓山: 773 meters high) at last, He was glad that his goal was finally achieved. "I have continued this with my own mind to learn the beautiful nature."

His wife Yuriko (58) has accompanied him to 30 among the 100 mountains. "When climbing the mountain, Masaichi truly seemed to be a different person. It is hard for me to keep up with his pace, but we would like to enjoy the rich nature in Hyogo as long as we are healthy enough to move around."

Folk tale: Mute wife's pray answered

2011-10-02T22:52:00.000-07:00

Ishiyama Temple in Shiga Prefecture

It is a well-known folk tale about a mute wife in Kyoto during the Heian period.

A long time ago, there was a mute woman who lived in Kyoto. Her parents already passed away and the nurse was taking care of her.

The mute woman married a man who was introduced by a certain match maker as he said that she was still young and beautiful.

However, the husband knew later that his wife was mute, so she went out to Ishiyama temple in Shiga Prefecture next to Kyoto and hide herself there.

The mute wife prayed to the Goddess of Mercy (the Goddess of Kannon) at the temple, "I heard that you fulfill the wish even it is difficult. Please cure my muteness so that I can speak."

While she was confined in the temple and prayed for several days, she met a Buddhist ascetic of Mt. Hiei who was coming for worship. She was able to speak in response to his incantation. The ascetic said it was because of the old evil spirit on her. The woman was glad with a tear, and presented the rosary of crystal to him as a gratitude.

On the other hand, the husband was never able to discover where his wife was, but with the faith, he had worshiped at the holy place here and there.

When he worshiped at Mt. Hiei in Shiga Prefecture near Kyoto, he met the Buddhist ascetic who carried the crystal rosary. He knew at once that his wife stayed in Ishiyama temple. So they happily got back together.

They believed this was the Kannon's divine favor, worshiped and served the Kannon further.

Japanese group who developed wasabi alarm device awarded Ig Nobel Prize

2011-10-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

Tajima Yukinobu (left) and IMAI Makoto tell joy prior to the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony at Harvard University.
(photo: http://www.shikoku-np.co.jp/kagawa_news/social/20111001000312)

2011/10/01

The award ceremony which the "Ig Nobel Prize" is presented to the humorous scientific studies, etc. was opened in Harvard University at Cambridge, Massachusetts on September 29.

Seven Japanese, including TAJIMA Yukinobu (57), Director of the Scent Marketing Association which developed the alarm device and IMAI Makoto (49), a Shiga Medical College lecturer, were awarded the chemistry prize jointly.

Japanese scientists have won the Ig Nobel Prize for five consecutive years. According to the prize secretariat, "the discovery of a suitable density of the Japanese horseradish (wasabi) in air to wake up those asleep in emergencies, such as a fire, and development of the Japanese horseradish alarm device using this" were highly evaluated as estimated to be "very unique and practical" this year.

Yukinobu said before the award ceremony, "I am really glad that our technology to alarm the Deaf about danger was evaluated in the world."

Also Makoto, an expert on sleep disorder, said, "I was indeed surprised at the notice of the award."

As a company Shimusu located in Tokyo manufactured the alarm devices, President URUSHIHATA Naoki (46) was one of the recipients. Other two persons were from the Air Water Disaster Prevention (Kobe) which offered the portion of the gas injection machine.

The wasabi alarm devices were presented to the Kagawa prefecture School for the Deaf and the Kagawa Echo Academy for Deaf Children, both in Takamatsu City in April, 2009.

English Article:

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110930p2g00m0dm013000c.html

Related link:
Smelling alarm unit developed to save Deaf persons from the fire
http://deafjapan.blogspot.com/2009/04/smelling-alarm-unit-developed-to-save.html

Deaf-Mute and Principle of Retribution in Heian Period

2011-09-29T22:40:00.000-07:00

Murasaki Shikibu

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tosa_Mitsuoki_001.jpg)

Many influences of the thought of the three religions in ancient Japan, Shintoism, Confucianism and Buddhism, were found in the high society of the Heian period (794-1185/1192).

It was believed that one of the influences was the principle of retribution. For instance, a person who was born deaf or mute is a result of the inappropriate behavior in the past.

The Hokkekyo Shu (法華経: School of the Lotus Sutra), one of the Buddhist teachings, has the following phrases related to the persons with disabilities.

Even if one can become man, the person can't hear, neither he sees nor speaks as a punishment, because he has had criticized the sutra.

The Tale of Genji (源氏物語) is a classic work of Japanese literature written by a court lady Murasaki Shikibu (紫式部) in the early 11th century, around the peak of the Heian period. It has been said the first great novel in world literature.

It can be read as sort of Buddhism parable. The principle of karma, or retribution, is also a notion to which the Japanese were strongly attracted.

In the chapter of the Tale called "the everlasting summer", the woman named Omi conversed with the lieutenant general about about the principle of retribution.

Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_Genji

School for the Deaf flooded due to "abnormal high tide level" in Tokushima Prefecture

2011-09-29T22:08:00.000-07:00

The area in front of the door of the prefecture school for the Deaf is submersed at 18:00 on September 28.
(photo: http://www.topics.or.jp/localNews/news/2011/09/2011_1317259214.html)

2011/9/29

Parts of the school ground of the Tokushima prefecture School for the Deaf in Tokushima City has been flooded at the peak of the abnormal high tide since the September 27.

It seems that the water of Suketo River on the north side of the school is flowing back in the drainage canal overflowing under the influence of the "unexpected high tide level". The school officials are demanding the measure.

Water has overflowed several places, including the drainage canal in front of the west side door of the school building, after 17:30 since September 28.

At 18:30 near high tide level, about 250 square meters in total, such as the parking lot for bicycles and the courtyard, were flooded, and the depth of water reached 10 cm or more. There was almost no flood in the school till last year.

An abnormal high tide level will continue every day till October 1 according to the meteorological observatory. It also warns that there is fear of flood at the time of high tide level in an area along the shore and near a mouth of the river in the prefecture.

Principal SUMISE Nahomi anxiously said, "I am worried whether the water pours into the front door of the school building when the tide level goes up more. There are also many students who commute by a bicycle, and their safety is concerned ."

Meeting for policemen on human rights of the person with disability

2011-09-28T22:20:00.000-07:00

Hirota Kazuko gives a lecture in the Headquarters of the Kanagawa Prefecture Police Nakahara station.
(photo: http://sankei.jp.msn.com/region/news/110927/kng11092720580005-n1.htm)

September 27, 2011

HIROTA Kazuko (65), a Yokohama City resident, gave a lecture entitled "the human rights of a disabled person and the policeman" in the Nakahara station of Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City on September 27. She is an expert on mental health and has also once received medical treatment herself.

The police station had the serious case that the policeman did not respond the request from the deaf woman for sign-language interpreting at the spot of the traffic in July.

Kazuko mentioned this case, "If a policeman knows at least how to greet in sign language, a Deaf person would feel easy". She also advised that it would be helpful if the policeman knows how to say in sign language 'I am a policeman'".

Kazuko has worked as a mental health counselor for the prefecture policemen for years. She says, "the present condition is that a Japanese policeman has to act quickly at any request. Since there is no room for him to think carefully, he becomes depressed at any time, which has been a big issue."

Kazuko encouraged the 80 policemen who participated, "I want you to have pride as a policeman and take care of yourself mentally and physically to fulfill your service".

Related links:
- Prefecture police center overlooks request for sign language interpreter at traffic accident site
http://deafjapan.blogspot.com/2011/08/prefecture-police-center-overlooks.html

- Deaf society protests against the police for rejecting Deaf woman's request for interpreter
http://deafjapan.blogspot.com/2011/08/deaf-society-protests-against-police.html

Five kinds of deafness described in medical book in Heian period

2011-09-28T00:46:00.000-07:00

Tamba no Yasuyori

（http://202.209.73.88/users/jit/06jinbutu/02_kokusi_tai1.html）

"Ishimpo"
(The Knowledge on Medical Methods)

The oldest existing medical treatise in Japan.

Tamba no Yasuyori (丹波康頼: 912-995), a native of Tamba Amata (now Kyoto Prefecture) served as a high-ranking court physician in the middle of the Heian period (794-1185/1192). It is said that his ancestor was a naturalized Chinese in the end of the 4th century.

Yasuyori was excellent in medicine, given the Japanese family name Tamba Sukune (丹波宿禰), and became the founder of a family that professed in the field of medicine.

He compiled Chinese medical books of Sui (589-618) and Tang (T'ang: 618-907) dynasties into a 30-volume book titled "Ishimpo"( 『医心方』: The Knowledge on Medical Methods"), which was completed in 982. This is the oldest existing medical treatise in Japan.

There is description on the types of deaf-muteness in the book, that is, Yasuyori stated symptoms on deafness in five different types.

For example:
- Deafness from the cold (風聾) : if cold goes into an ear, certainly he has the itchy inside of an ear, or it carries out headache, and heat by the cold.
- Tinnitus (虚聾) : an ear sounds with the cold after long diarrhea or serious illness.
- Deafness from stress (労聾) : if an organ is tired from labor, and the vigor of a pulsation runs short, the person will be deaf.

Deaf students' uneasiness at time of disaster expressed in the play at school festival

2011-09-27T23:56:00.000-07:00

September 24, 2011

The school festival was opened on September 23 at the Shimane Prefecture Matsue School for the Deaf (35 students) at Matsue City in the prefecture in western Japan.

The high school students performed for a play titled "March 11, 2011: What can we do now?" as a study presentation, proposing about support required at the time of evacuation for the communication needs and information accessibility for the Deaf.

The students have visited the Chugoku Electric Power nuclear power plant located in the city in June, this year where they got the knowledge, etc. as a part of academic activities. Based also on the result investigated using the information obtained from the report of a newspaper, TV, etc. and the Internet, they gave the play.

They told the audience that their school is located about 4-5 km from the nuclear power plant, and that it is the closest to a nuclear power plant among the schools for the Deaf in the country.

They expressed the uneasy feeling in the play. "If the same accident as Fukushima happens, we will be no longer able to attend school, and also we may be unable to go home for a long time after the evacuation."

Moreover, the students also said how they should take refuge at the time of disasters, such as an earthquake, in the play. Suggestions were made such as "if it were dark around, I will be unable to read the lip movement and to understand anyone what is spoken", "the flashlight always is put on my bedside." Also other students appealed that radio disaster broadcast by the local government is not helpful to the Deaf.

SAKATA Tomoyoshi, a teacher who instructed the students to perform, explained that the play showed the students' frank feeling." The signed performances eagerly played at the school festival won big applause from spectators.

Japanese edition:
http://mainichi.jp/area/shimane/news/20110924ddlk32040319000c.html

Dragon symbolizes Deaf

2011-09-26T23:51:00.000-07:00

An image of Dragon

(http://www.zakka.net/kouyuu/shouhin.php?shid=79680)

A dragon is an imaginary and mysterious animal which ancient people used to fear and worship in Japan.

Ashikawa Keishu (life history unknown) wrote a book titled "Byoumeiikai" (Collected Explanations of Disease Names) in 1686 during the Edo period (1603-1868).

He arranged the name list of 1822 diseases in all in iroha order (similar to the alphabetical order) and explained each.

In the book, he states about deafness:
"Dragon hears sound on the horns instead of the ears which it doesn't have".

In addition, the sea horse resembles the form of the dragon and the Japanese Federation of the Deaf makes it its official logo.

A sea horse

(http://starfort.cocolog-nifty.com/voorlihter/2008/05/post_e698.html)

The official logo of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf

(http://www.jfd.or.jp/)

The word "Rou" which means "Deaf" is often written in kanji (a Chinese character), [聾]. Interestingly, you will see, it is composed of two Chinese characters [龍], which means a dragon, and [耳] meaning an ear.

Event: Social participation of the Deaf to expand through interpreting service in Kansai region

2011-09-26T22:55:00.000-07:00

September 24, 2011

The three-day meeting to discuss social participation of the Deaf started in Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo Prefecture on September 23.

About 35 Deaf persons and interpreting volunteers in total participated on that day. The Deaf participants discussed the frustrating experience and the opinion, such as "We don't understand what the guide explains and hardly enjoy visiting at a tourist spot", etc.

The event was organized by the Deaf Independent Living Center (LIC), which was formed in June, 2010. They have requested the towns and cities to expand the system to support independence of the Deaf, and offers programs such as training the computer-aided real-time captioner.

Social participation of the Deaf has been possible only by sign language or writing. According to LIC, whether the interpreter dispatch service is available to a medical institution, ceremonial occasions, a fellowship party and social activities varies with cities, towns and villages.

NISHIMURA Yushi (22), a Deaf LIC member, said, "I want the municipals to expand the range of the interpreter dispatch service to qualification acquisition, the leisure activities, etc. in addition to medical institutions and ceremonial occasions, etc.

On September 24, the second day of the event, the Deaf participants will visit the theme park "Universal Studios Japan" (USJ) in Osaka with interpreters and experience
how much they can enjoy the trip with more information input through interpreting.

On the last day, September 25, the Deaf participants will make a street speech about their new experience with social interpreting in front of Sannomiya Station in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture.

Persons with disability in the years between 794 and 1185

2011-09-24T21:52:00.000-07:00

Kyoto turned into a capital in the Heian period (794-1185/1192), an aristocracy era, following the Nara period (710〜784/794).

It seems that the person with disability was not liked for their strange appearance differed in an aristocrat's life that gracefulness and standard were respected.

Even if the person with disability was born to the aristocrat's family, it was hard for him to come out to the salon of the court.

Some persons with disability lived in the cottage with the curtain of silk down even in daytime in the suburbs of the capital.

Moreover, an expert of the biwa (Japanese musical instrument) lived at the side of the clear stream in other suburb. It is told that this lady cried too much out of sadness and became blind. This example shows distinct connection of a blind person and music.

The children with mental disability born to an aristocrat family were also kept away in the neighboring farmhouse for lengthened stay. They often were adopted by the owner of the farmhouse.

Empress Komyo and the poor in 8th century

2011-09-22T23:43:00.000-07:00

Empress Komyo (701–760)

(image: http://hokkeji.shop-pro.jp/?pid=25218615)

"Hidenin", the charity facility for the poor in Nara period
(photo: http://www31.ocn.ne.jp/~john/home/sen/hiden/hiden.htm)

The Japanese Imperial government in 8th Century decided Buddhism to be its national religion.

Empress Komyo (光明皇后) (701–760), the wife of Emperor Shomu (701–756), was a pious Buddhist. She was the one who planned and implemented building of all the Nara Period Buddhism monuments, including Todaiji, Yakushiji, and Daibutsu.

She built the first Japanese national hospital, Seyakuin (施薬院) as well as the charity home for the poor, Hidenin (悲田院) in Nara. Japanese mythology tells Empress Komyo involved herself in treatments of patients. She did not limit the function of this national hospital just to Emperor family or aristocrats. Anybody sick despite their social class could use this hospital. Before roadside trees were built in the capital main street, she chose peach and pear trees so that a poor person may not be hungry.

There is a tale: one day, Empress Komyo was engaging in patient's treatment in the national hospital. An old man with Hansen's disease came to her. Empress Komyo tried to clean his body, but she could not clean all pus from his wounds. Empress Komyo started to suck his pus with her mouth for cleaning. Suddenly the old leper changed his appearance. He was one of Buddha's messengers, Nyo-Rai. He told her Buddhism would protect her country and people so that her people would enjoy prosperity.

Buddhism became the national religion with Empress Komyo's success.

Source (English):
http://EzineArticles.com/5374845

Deaf drum performance show held in Hyogo Prefecture

2011-09-22T22:03:00.000-07:00

The Itami Deaf Drum Club "Rakko" (楽鼓)" in performance.
(photo: http://mainichi.jp/select/wadai/news/20110919mog00m040016000c.html)

September 19, 2011

The 10th Japan Deaf Dram Club Performance Show was held in Itami City, Hyogo Prefecture on September 18. Nine drum clubs from six prefectures in total joined the event and demonstrated a result of their daily practice.

Representing Hyogo prefecture, the Itami Deaf drum club "Rakko" (楽鼓)" participated and delighted the audience with their performance.

This group was established in 1999 to enjoy beating the drum. Five men and women aged 10-68 who live in Itami are working now. As a part of lifelong learning, they have performed at the home for the aged, an event for persons with disability, etc. several times a year.

Although they usually practice 3 times a month, several months before the public performance they did 3 times per week. Three of the members are Deaf and they say that it was most difficult to play drum with music. KIYOHARA Takako (68), one of the Deaf members, says, "We feel how to beat a drum through the body, and also use the eye contact, etc. to beat the drum."

About this public performance, Takako said, "We indeed enjoyed our performance, although there was some mistakes. We would like to return kindness through our drum performance since we have always been indebted to society."

Medical book on how to cure deafness edited in 808

2011-09-21T22:23:00.000-07:00

A book on popular remedy titled "Daitouruijuho" (『大同類聚方』) , edited in 808 in early stages of the Heian period, is the oldest book on the popular medical treatment in Japan (100 volumes in all). It is also the oldest government-designated pharmacopeia.

The 51st Emperor Heizei (774-824) apprehended that the Japanese popular remedy method was on the verge of collapse, caused by the inflows of Chinese medicine.

He ordered the leading powerful clans and old families, shrines to submit material on the ancient medical method.

Abeno Manao (安倍真直), Izumo Hirosada (出雲広貞) and others carried out the task to edit the collected materials.

The method of cure deafness with remedy is recorded in detail in the book.

For example, what is necessary is just to give her the medicine, when a woman after the delivery faints, her complexion becomes red and impossible to say a thing.

Moreover, when a person becomes deaf after serious illness, medicine is prepared for him to take.

A 6-year-old child faints and hardly speaks. Several days afterward, he becomes mute, which can recover if the medicine is given to him.

National Deaf sports meet held in Aichi Prefecture

2011-09-21T22:04:00.000-07:00

Representatives of the players from Aichi Prefecture take an oath for best performance at the opening ceremony.
(photo: http://mainichi.jp/area/aichi/news/20110917ddlk23050234000c.html)

September 17, 2011

The opening ceremony of the 45th National Deaf Sports Meet, sponsored by the Japanese Federation of the Deaf, was held in Kariya City, Aichi Prefecture on September 16. It was the first time in 31 years since the last one held in the prefecture.

About 1,600 players, 1,500 officials and sign language interpreters participated in the event, which will last through September 18 with ten games, such as baseball, volleyball, truck and field, at 4 cities and 11 venues.

At the opening ceremony, about 800 players and officers attended following the leader with the placard in order of the prefectures.

ITO Teruo, vice president of the Aichi Association of the Deaf and the head of the organising committee, greeted saying "We are glad especially to welcome participation of a total of 40 players from three prefectures (Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima), stricken by the Great East Japan Earthquake last March."

Governor OMURA Hideaki and, Kariya City Mayor TAKENAKA Yoshinori Takenaka and others gave a welcome remark in sign language, respectively.

Man whose hearing recovered after embracing Buddhism in 6th century

2011-09-20T23:12:00.000-07:00

In the period of the 33rd Empeor Suiko (554-628: reign 592-628), there was a man called Kinuuino tomono miyakko Yoshimitu (衣縫伴造義通).

He became sick suddenly, and not only he became deaf, but also he had swelling skin disease on the whole body. He did not get better.

Yoshimichi thought himself, "My sickness is a result of karma from the past before I was born in this world: it is not only a worldly reward. It will be better for me to do the good deed and die promptly rather than living long and being disliked by people."

Then, Yoshimichi purified land, decorated the temple, invited and greeted the Zen monk, washed the body with the perfume first, relying on Buddhism, and prayed with the monk together.

Lo and behold, something wonderful happened. Yoshimichi asked the Zen priest, "I just heard the name of the Bodhisattva at one ear of mine. Therefore, the honorable monk, please bear for a while and continue a prayer".

When the monk worshiped again, Yoshimichi's ear was able to regain hearing. He was overjoyed and asked the monk again to worship more. At last he was able to hear with his both ears.

People here and there heard this story and were surprised, not showing any doubt.

The point of this story seems to indicate: If you embrace Buddhism and pray from the bottom of your heart, your wish certainly will come true.

----

＊In ancient Japan and currently, too, there are chiefly two religious beliefs; Shintoism first, and then Buddhism. This story above has the mixture of the two religions. For example, purification of the land or the body is part of Shintoism.

A symbol of Shintoism

（photo: http://www.h3.dion.ne.jp/~tsutaya/newpage36.htm)

An image of Buddism

（photo: http://minbutu.com/category/715178-1.html）

Deaf student to compete at International Abilympics in Korea

2011-09-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

Ueda Daiki practices on making a small desk which is a theme of the International Abilympics furniture section.
(photo: http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/item/263411)

September 15, 2011

UEDA Daiki (20), a student of the Nagasaki Prefecture School for the Deaf, will represent Japan at the upcoming "8th International Abilympics" furniture section. The event will be open in Soul, South Korea on September 25.

It is the first time in 11 years that a representative is elected from the prefecture, and it is also first for a student. Daiki visited the Prefecture Office on September 14 to report his representation. He talked about ambition, "My goal is to win a prize higher than the 6th place."

The International Abilympics is held every four years in order to improve the vocational skills of persons with disabilities and to promote an understanding of disability. There are 40 items, such as furniture, artificial limb manufacture, cooking, dressmaking, etc. Since there is no age limit, most contestants are professional craftmen.

Daiki, a Tsushima native, left his home at the age of 3 to live in the dormitory. He says that he saw the wardrobes and cupboards made by the high school seniors exhibited at the school cultural festival when he was an elementary pupil. Ever since he had yearned for making woodwork furniture. So, he chose the industrial craft course including making cabinetry at once when he was a high school junior.

He won the second prize for furniture at the National Abilympics last autumn, and was chosen as a representative for the Soul Abilympics in January, this year.

After the subject item at the contest was announced as a "small desk" in May, Daiki has devoted to making a small desk on many days for 4 hours per day using the training time. Seven small desks were made until now and as a result he feels his skills are much improved.

At the Abilympics, the contestant has only 5 hours and a half to complete the furniture manufacture before the audience, and it is a hard time even for a professional craftsman. Daiki is enthusiastic, saying "I would like to do my best so that my stepped-up efforts can be demonstrated."

8th International Abilympics Official site (English):
http://www.ia2011.org/english/enIndex.do