Tokyo Govt Conducts Sign Language Lessons ahead of Deaflympics

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–The Tokyo metropolitan government is making final preparations to host the Deaflympics, known as the Olympics for people with hearing difficulties, from Saturday, such as conducting sign language lessons for its staff. It aims to facilitate the management of the Deaflympics, in which some 3,000 athletes from over 70 countries and regions are slated to compete, by promoting understanding about people with hearing impairments through the lessons. The upcoming Deaflympics will be the first to be held in Japan. Since Tokyo was selected in 2022 as the host city for the 2025 Deaflympics, set to run until Nov. 26, the metropolitan government has held sign language lessons a total of 15 times for welfare department workers and employees involved in events related to the international sports competition. Instructors taught participants how to introduce themselves and explain specifics about sports. “By learning even simple sign language, we can understand what it’s like to be unable to hear,” a metropolitan government official said. Tokyo Sport Benefits Corp., which works to promote sports among Tokyoites, also held a sign language lesson, on Oct. 2, for staff of metropolitan government-owned sports facilities to be used as Deaflympics venues. About 40 participants, including those taking part online, learned sign language and gestures that can be used in emergencies such as natural disasters, in addition to how to greet. “It was a good opportunity to learn what we should keep in mind when welcoming people with hearing difficulties,” one participant said. “I hope to be able to take appropriate action depending on the situation.” Daisuke Ochi, 68, head of the secretariat of the Tokyo Federation of Deaf, who served as the instructor in the lesson, emphasized that gestures are also an effective tool of communication. “I want people to learn (through the Deaflympics) about those who can’t hear and how they communicate,” Ochi said. The Tokyo government has also set up transparent displays, which show spoken words in text, at 110 metropolitan government facilities, including hospitals and schools for the deaf, in the run-up to the Deaflympics. The device is designed to be used for interactions with people with hearing impairments and foreign tourists. The Tokyo government hopes to promote this initiative as a “legacy” of the Deaflympics, with an aim to create an environment where people can communicate smoothly with everyone. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]