About JFD: History

About the Japanese Federation of the Deaf

	Introduction	Projects	History	Achievements	Organization	Asian Deaf Friendship Fund	Dictionary

History:

1947 May 25 JFD founded at Ikaho Hot Springs in Gunma Prefecture

1948 May 1 The first issue of the Japanese Deaf News is published

May 10 JFD holds its 1st National Congress in Kyoto

1950 May 20 JFD is officially incorporated and registered with the Ministry of Health and Welfare

1959 Oct. 7 JFD resolves at its 9th National Congress to join the World Federation of the Deaf

1966 Nov. 25 The 1st National Debate Meeting of Deaf Youth is held in Kyoto

1967 Aug. 13 Delegates from JFD are sent for the first time to the 5th World Congress of the Deaf in Poland

Oct. 23 The 1st National Games for the Deaf are held in Tokyo

1968 Feb. 5 The 1st National Winter Games of the Deaf are held in Gunma Prefecture

March 9 JFD Board decides to form a campaign headquarters to organize the movement to give the Deaf the right to obtain drivers' licenses

1969 May 11 JFD's Youth Section is established at the JFD National Congress in Kumamoto

Oct. 25 JFD publishes "Watashitachi no Shuwa," a textbook on Japanese Sign Language

1971 Aug. 15 JFD moves its head office from Osaka to Tokyo

Nov. 21 The 1st National Deaf Women's Conference is held in Kyoto

1972 April Sunday classes to promote social integration of Deaf adults begin

1973 April Sign Language interpreting services begin in Japan

June 19 30,000 petition signatures are collected and submitted to the Diet to revise the Traffic Law prohibiting the Deaf from driving

Aug. 28 The Police Agency sends an official notice confirming the right of Deaf persons to drive if they are wearing hearing aids

1975 Feb. 22 Eiichi Takada, then JFD Secretary General, addresses the Lower House Budget Committee on Article 11 of the Civil Law and other Deaf issues

May 1 JFD's Women's Section is established in Aichi

1976 Nov. 27 JFD begins giving certification exams for sign interpreters

1977 Feb. 1 JFD starts a campaign to collect signatures of approval on four major issues:
1) revision of the Traffic Law for the granting of driver's licenses; 2) revision of Civil Law Article 11; 3) official recognition and support for Sign Language interpreting service systems; and 4) establishment of a center for people who are Deaf or have speaking impediments.

Oct. 20 JFD publishes a quarterly magazine named "The Deaf Movement"

1979 April JFD is commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to establish a sign interpreter instructors' training program and to conduct studies on the standardization of the Japanese Sign Language

1981 April JFD is commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to set up a Videocassette Library Project

1982 Nov. 29 JFD is commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to set up a committee to investigate and examine Sign Language interpreter services

1985 May 27 The "Research Report Concerning Sign Language Interpreting Services" is presented to the Ministry of Health and Welfare

August 1.2 million copies of "I Love Communication," a pamphlet on Sign Language communication, are distributed

1986 June 19 A Deaf political candidate is not allowed to have his campaign speeches interpreted. This sparks a nationwide campaign to allow Sign Language interpretation for election campaign speeches.

1987 July WFD decides at the 10th World Congress of the Deaf in Finland to hold the next World Congress in Japan.

1988 May 15 JFD's Senior Section is formed in Okayama

May 20 "The Research Report on Issues such as the Standardization of the Certification Exams for Sign Language Interpreters" is presented to the Ministry of Health and Welfare

1990 July The Deaf Movement Quarterly changes its name to Mimi Quarterly

1991 July 5 The 11th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf takes place in Tokyo

1993 April JFD is commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to promote and spread Sign Language

1994 Nov. 2 JFD holds a Leadership Training Seminar for Asian Deaf Persons

1995 Nov. 13 JFD begins the "Leadership Training of Asian and Oceanian Deaf Persons" under the sponsorship of the Japan International Cooperation Agency

Dec. 9 The first experimental use of a communications satellite to broadcast television programs made exclusively for the Deaf

1996 Aug. JFD begins its 50th Anniversary "National Caravan of the Deaf for Discussion with Governors"

1997 Feb. 3 JFD holds the Goal Ceremony of the above event

June 15 JFD commemorates its 50th Anniversary at the 45th National Congress
JFD publishes the Japanese-Japanese Sign Language Dictionary

1998 Oct. 1 A nationwide campaign to revise discriminatory laws begins and over 2,220,000 signatures are collected.

2000 Mar. 29 JFD submits the signatures collected in the above campaign to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the House of Councilors.

May 19 JFD submits the signatures collected in the campaign to revise discriminatory laws to the Assistant Manager of Headquarters of Promoting the Welfare of Disabled Persons (a position held additionally by the Minister of Health and Welfare).

Sep.10 JFD holds a nationwide meeting for aiming to revise laws which discriminate against deaf people. A deaf Physician is invited from U.S.

2001 June 13 A law bill of "revision a part of Road Traffic Act" is resolved at the Upper House plenary session. They abolish the Clause 88 that had discriminated against the disabled.

June 23 A law bill of "revision of several laws, including Medical Practitioners Act, so as to improve the reasons for disqualification regarding the disabled" is carried. Revise of 27 laws and 31 systems eliminate the disabled-specific absolute grounds for disqualification.

July 17 For the first time, a license to practice pharmacy is given to a deaf person.

2002 Jan. 31 The National Center of Sign Language Education is established in Kyoto.

2003 July 1 The charity drive for facilities improvement of the National Center of Sign Language Education is started.

2004 Aug. 30 The Community Sagano is opened in the National Center of Sign Language Education.

Mar. JFD breaks away from the National Federation of Organization for the Disabled Persons.

Oct. 31 The Japan Disability Forum (JDF) is established and JFD joins.

2005 Oct. 31 The "Services and Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act" is enacted.

2006 Apr. 1 The "Services and Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act" goes into force.

Apr. 13 The National Police Agency decides to revise the traffic law so as to give the driver license even to persons with total deafness.

Dec. 13 The plenary of the UN General Assembly adopts by consensus the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which defines "signed languages are included in language". It means Sign Language is acknowledged across the world as one of languages.

Previous (Projects)

Top

Next (Achievemnets)

Home -- News -- About JFD -- Contact -- Japanese

1947	May 25	JFD founded at Ikaho Hot Springs in Gunma Prefecture
1948	May 1	The first issue of the Japanese Deaf News is published
	May 10	JFD holds its 1st National Congress in Kyoto
1950	May 20	JFD is officially incorporated and registered with the Ministry of Health and Welfare
1959	Oct. 7	JFD resolves at its 9th National Congress to join the World Federation of the Deaf
1966	Nov. 25	The 1st National Debate Meeting of Deaf Youth is held in Kyoto
1967	Aug. 13	Delegates from JFD are sent for the first time to the 5th World Congress of the Deaf in Poland
	Oct. 23	The 1st National Games for the Deaf are held in Tokyo
1968	Feb. 5	The 1st National Winter Games of the Deaf are held in Gunma Prefecture
	March 9	JFD Board decides to form a campaign headquarters to organize the movement to give the Deaf the right to obtain drivers' licenses
1969	May 11	JFD's Youth Section is established at the JFD National Congress in Kumamoto
	Oct. 25	JFD publishes "Watashitachi no Shuwa," a textbook on Japanese Sign Language
1971	Aug. 15	JFD moves its head office from Osaka to Tokyo
	Nov. 21	The 1st National Deaf Women's Conference is held in Kyoto
1972	April	Sunday classes to promote social integration of Deaf adults begin
1973	April	Sign Language interpreting services begin in Japan
	June 19	30,000 petition signatures are collected and submitted to the Diet to revise the Traffic Law prohibiting the Deaf from driving
	Aug. 28	The Police Agency sends an official notice confirming the right of Deaf persons to drive if they are wearing hearing aids
1975	Feb. 22	Eiichi Takada, then JFD Secretary General, addresses the Lower House Budget Committee on Article 11 of the Civil Law and other Deaf issues
	May 1	JFD's Women's Section is established in Aichi
1976	Nov. 27	JFD begins giving certification exams for sign interpreters
1977	Feb. 1	JFD starts a campaign to collect signatures of approval on four major issues: 1) revision of the Traffic Law for the granting of driver's licenses; 2) revision of Civil Law Article 11; 3) official recognition and support for Sign Language interpreting service systems; and 4) establishment of a center for people who are Deaf or have speaking impediments.
	Oct. 20	JFD publishes a quarterly magazine named "The Deaf Movement"
1979	April	JFD is commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to establish a sign interpreter instructors' training program and to conduct studies on the standardization of the Japanese Sign Language
1981	April	JFD is commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to set up a Videocassette Library Project
1982	Nov. 29	JFD is commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to set up a committee to investigate and examine Sign Language interpreter services
1985	May 27	The "Research Report Concerning Sign Language Interpreting Services" is presented to the Ministry of Health and Welfare
	August	1.2 million copies of "I Love Communication," a pamphlet on Sign Language communication, are distributed
1986	June 19	A Deaf political candidate is not allowed to have his campaign speeches interpreted. This sparks a nationwide campaign to allow Sign Language interpretation for election campaign speeches.
1987	July	WFD decides at the 10th World Congress of the Deaf in Finland to hold the next World Congress in Japan.
1988	May 15	JFD's Senior Section is formed in Okayama
	May 20	"The Research Report on Issues such as the Standardization of the Certification Exams for Sign Language Interpreters" is presented to the Ministry of Health and Welfare
1990	July	The Deaf Movement Quarterly changes its name to Mimi Quarterly
1991	July 5	The 11th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf takes place in Tokyo
1993	April	JFD is commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to promote and spread Sign Language
1994	Nov. 2	JFD holds a Leadership Training Seminar for Asian Deaf Persons
1995	Nov. 13	JFD begins the "Leadership Training of Asian and Oceanian Deaf Persons" under the sponsorship of the Japan International Cooperation Agency
	Dec. 9	The first experimental use of a communications satellite to broadcast television programs made exclusively for the Deaf
1996	Aug.	JFD begins its 50th Anniversary "National Caravan of the Deaf for Discussion with Governors"
1997	Feb. 3	JFD holds the Goal Ceremony of the above event
	June 15	JFD commemorates its 50th Anniversary at the 45th National Congress JFD publishes the Japanese-Japanese Sign Language Dictionary
1998	Oct. 1	A nationwide campaign to revise discriminatory laws begins and over 2,220,000 signatures are collected.
2000	Mar. 29	JFD submits the signatures collected in the above campaign to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the House of Councilors.
	May 19	JFD submits the signatures collected in the campaign to revise discriminatory laws to the Assistant Manager of Headquarters of Promoting the Welfare of Disabled Persons (a position held additionally by the Minister of Health and Welfare).
	Sep.10	JFD holds a nationwide meeting for aiming to revise laws which discriminate against deaf people. A deaf Physician is invited from U.S.
2001	June 13	A law bill of "revision a part of Road Traffic Act" is resolved at the Upper House plenary session. They abolish the Clause 88 that had discriminated against the disabled.
	June 23	A law bill of "revision of several laws, including Medical Practitioners Act, so as to improve the reasons for disqualification regarding the disabled" is carried. Revise of 27 laws and 31 systems eliminate the disabled-specific absolute grounds for disqualification.
	July 17	For the first time, a license to practice pharmacy is given to a deaf person.
2002	Jan. 31	The National Center of Sign Language Education is established in Kyoto.
2003	July 1	The charity drive for facilities improvement of the National Center of Sign Language Education is started.
2004	Aug. 30	The Community Sagano is opened in the National Center of Sign Language Education.
	Mar.	JFD breaks away from the National Federation of Organization for the Disabled Persons.
	Oct. 31	The Japan Disability Forum (JDF) is established and JFD joins.
2005	Oct. 31	The "Services and Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act" is enacted.
2006	Apr. 1	The "Services and Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act" goes into force.
	Apr. 13	The National Police Agency decides to revise the traffic law so as to give the driver license even to persons with total deafness.
	Dec. 13	The plenary of the UN General Assembly adopts by consensus the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which defines "signed languages are included in language". It means Sign Language is acknowledged across the world as one of languages.