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Live event on the International Day of Sign Languages
You can watch the online event live on this page.
Program: (Only Japanese Sign Language)
- Greetings from the Organizer
- Greetings from Guests (Tottori Prefecture, The Nippon Foundation, Tottori Prefecture Association for the Deaf)
- Short movie (World Federation of the Deaf Asia Regional Secretariat) (with International Sign)
- Panel discussion on “Prospects for Sign Language in Japan”
- Relay of events in 5 member organizations in Japan)
- Declaration of the Organizer
Distribution of YouTube: Available from UTC 05:00 on September 23, 2023. The event will start at UTC 06:00 on September 23, 2023.
Tokyo has been selected to host the 2025 Deaflympics
Tokyo was officially selected as the host city of the 2025 Deaflympics at the Congress of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) held in Austria (Vienna) on 9 and 10 September 2022.
Upon the decision, Mr. Fujisaburo Ishino, President of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf, and Mr. Yosuke Ota, President of the Japan Deaf Sports Federation, will issue the following comments.
Emergency Statement on the Ukrainian Crisis
日本語版はこちらへ (to Japanese version)
(International Sign Version)
The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, which began on February 24, 2022, is a violation of the UN Charter that seriously threatens peace, order and life in the international community and in Ukraine, and is inhumane and not permissible. We, the Japanese Federation of the Deaf (JFD) strongly hope that the citizens of both Ukraine and the Russian Federation will be able to regain their peaceful lives as soon as possible.
The International Day of Sign Languages 2021 Celebration Event will be held in Asia and Oceania.
The International Day of Sign Languages 2021 celebration event will be streamed online due to Covid-19. We are looking forward to seeing many people.
International Day of Sign Languages 2021
Celebration Event: Outline
| Objectives | Address the establishment of sign language acts in Asia Pacific region, by sharing ideas and opinions about sign languages and accessibility in Asia Pacific region, and by informing wide range of audiences of the principle of “sign language as language” and good practices of information. |
| Organizers | World Federation of the Deaf Regional Secretariat of Asia (WFDRSA), World Federation of the Deaf Regional Secretariat for Oceania (WFDRSO), Japanese Federation of the Deaf (JFD) |
| Cooperation | United Nations, United Nations Information Center |
| Date | Thursday, September 23, 2021 (autumnal equinox day/ national holiday of Japan), 13:00-14:30 |
| Place | Broadcasted by YouTube (pre-recorded) * Videos will be viewable from 13:00 September 23.
|
| Viewer limit | None (anyone can access) |
| Participation fee | Free |
| Communication | International sign, subtitles in English |
| Program |
Opening remark
Introduction of daily themes of International Week of Deaf People
Congratulatory video message
Panel discussion: Sign languages around the world and accessibility
|
JFD and JDSF hold International Workshop of Deaf Sports
On February 23, Tuesday, and a national holiday, the Japanese Federation of the Deaf (JFD) and the Japanese Deaf Sports Federation(JDSF) conducted the International Workshop of Deaf Sports. 17 national deaf sports associations and 3 international guests attended the meeting online. To secure the online information-communication guarantee, materials, subtitles, International Sign, and Japanese Sign language were displayed on the same screen, respectively at the left top, the bottom left, the right top, and the bottom right.
Mr. Martin Bogard, Chair of Technical Commission of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD), and Ms. Cathy Schelvis, Technical Director (TD) of the ICSD, reported the current situation of the ICSD and explained the roles and required services of the TDs. Then Yuji Okawa, the head of the Japan Deaf Volleyball Association (JDVA), presented their bidding plan for the World Deaf Volleyball Championships, and Mr. Mitsuji Hisamatsu, General Manager of the Deaflympics 2025 Bid Preparation Division, outlined their campaign to have the Deaflympic Games hosted by Japan.
In the last half of the meeting, a panel discussion was held coordinated by Mr. Yutaka Osugi, Chairperson of ICSD Reform Commission, with Mr. Mohammad Pargar, President of the Asia Pacific Deaf Sports Confederation (APDSC), from Iran, and Mr. Koji Takahashi, Chairperson of the Japan Deaf Football Association (JDFA) and a former TD of football at the APDSC.
During the Q & A Session, there were many questions on various topics, such as methods for selecting TDs at the ICSD, the standards for information-communication guarantee using flashing lights, or the future directions of the APDSC. The 3 guest speakers from overseas praised the elaborate preparation of the Workshop and the information-communication guarantee system, and the domestic deaf sports associations’ enthusiasm. Many participating associations stated that they would engage more in international activities, including serving TDs, to promote their sports area.
JFD and JDSF hold 1st Meeting of Deaflympics 2025 Bid Preparation Division
The Japanese Federation of the Deaf (JFD) and the Japanese Deaf Sports Federation(JDSF) held the first meeting of the Deaflympics 2025 Bid Preparation Division on Monday, January 18, 2021. All the Advisors and Members of Division met in person or online in the middle of a state of emergency due to COVID-19.
At the meeting, the progression status of the campaign activities to have the Deaflympic Games hosted by Japan was shared with the participants and the determination to work closely together with each other for the successful bid was confirmed.
The meeting was significant in that it showed a proactive attitude of Japanese sporting community, which attempts to establish an inclusive society through sports, in supporting for successful bid of the Deaflympic Games that aims to create societies where everyone can access information, with collaborative efforts of both disabled and able-bodied people.
Message Video from the directors of the JFD about “2020 International Day of Sign Languages.”
On December 19, 2017, the 72nd UN General Assembly proclaimed September 23rd as the “International Day of Sign Languages.” September 23rd is also the day of establishment of the World Federation of the Deaf in 1951. Let’s encourage UN member states to raise awareness of sign language throughout the society so that sign language is regarded equal to spoken language and guarantee the human rights of Deaf people! “Sign language is life.” Congratulations on the 3rd International Day of Sign Languages!
Situation of COVID-19 in Japan in International Sign
Situation of COVID-19 in Japan
While COVID-19 is spreading throughout the world, I, Ota, chair of the International Committee, will like to report on behalf of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf to our Deaf friends around the world about the current situation of Japanese Deaf.
Views on Sign Language Interpreters in Medical Settings for Infectious Diseases
Translated from Japanese to English by
The National Research Association for Sign Lanugage Interpretation.
Views on Sign Language Interpreters in Medical Settings
for Infectious Diseases
With the worldwide spread of the new Coronavirus, COVID-19, concern about infection of sign language interpreters in medical settings has been increasing.
There is a fear of infections to registered sign language interpreters who receive no health care coverage or paid sick leave in the current system “providing interpretation by mainly dispatching registered sign language interpreters”. In addition, possible infection of staff members at Information Centers for the Deaf, mostly running under the designated manager system, would have a great impact on these facilities’ operations.