National Congress of the Deaf
The National Congress of the Deaf takes place every June, attracting about 2,000 to 3,000 participants from all over Japan. It aims to promote the social self-reliance and status of deaf people in Japan, improve welfare services for them, provide information on major deaf-related issues, and strengthen mutual cooperation. The General Assembly, held during the congress, adopts resolutions and policies on welfare, education, labor, etc., for the current fiscal year.
Deaf Research Subcommittee Meetings are also held during the congress, featuring lectures and panel discussions on deaf-related topics. Other concurrent events include a photo exhibition of the National Deaf Photography Contest, National Deaf Theater Performances, and an accessibility exhibition that showcases assistive devices and other services for people with hearing disabilities.
National Games for the Deaf
The National Games for the Deaf are held annually in summer and every four years in winter. They aim to strengthen the physical and mental well-being of deaf people, and promote their social participation, while raising public awareness of the deaf.
The summer games feature baseball, soccer, track and field, volleyball, table tennis, tennis, badminton, bowling, softball, and basketball.
In winter, alpine skiing (slalom and giant slalom), alpine snowboarding, and technical ski events are held.
Seminars
The Japanese Federation of the Deaf (JFD) holds the following seminars to address deaf issues:
Management Seminar
Held annually to enhance the organizational capabilities of member associations nationwide.
National Seminar for Full-Time Employees
Held annually to improve the skills of full-time staff working at member associations nationwide.
National Training Seminar for Counselors for the Deaf
Held annually to enhance the skills and professional capabilities of counselors for the deaf hired by local governments.
Training Seminar for Sign Language Interpreters at Public Employment Security Offices
Held annually to train disability affairs personnel and sign language interpreters at public employment offices nationwide, as well as local deaf association staff in charge of labor issues, and facilitate information exchange.
National Senior Deaf Conference / National Deaf Women’s Conference / National Deaf Youth Debates
Held annually by JFD’s Senior, Women’s, and Youth Sections to provide training, and address and share challenges specific to each age group.
Other Projects
High School Student Sign Language Speech Contest
Held every August for high school students who are learning sign language. It is co-hosted with the Asahi Shimbun Social Welfare Organization.
Publication
JFD conducts publishing activities to help sign language learners and the general public correctly understand various issues on sign language and people who are deaf.
Its Japanese Sign Language textbook series, Watashitachi no Shuwa (Our Sign Language), was first published in 1969. Depicting deaf people’s everyday expressions, these volumes have become popular. To date, JFD has issued 10 basic vocabulary books, one supplement, another one on sports terms, “new signs” series I–IV and 2004–2026, as well as learning dictionaries I and II (some titles are out of print).
JFD also publishes textbooks for training sign language interpreters and volunteers based on the curriculum set by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. They are used in sign language seminars all over the country.
News
Since 1948, JFD has published the monthly newspaper Japanese Deaf News to promote understanding and interest in deaf people. The paper reports on news and topics concerning deaf people in Japan and the world. Its archive edition is published every five to six years.
Additionally, the Mimi Quarterly magazine is published four times a year. It features news, special articles, serials, interviews, etc.
International Projects
World Federation of the Deaf (WFD)
WFD, founded in 1951, is an international non-governmental organization for deaf people. It addresses various deaf-related issues in collaboration with the United Nations and other international agencies and expert groups. JFD joined the WFD in 1960. Japan’s first delegates attended the 5th WFD World Congress in 1967. Japan has sent delegates every time since the 7th World Congress. In 1991, the 11th World Congress was held in Tokyo, attracting about 7,000 participants from 54 countries. Its General Assembly elected Takada Eiichi as the first Japanese WFD board member.
World Federation of the Deaf Regional Secretariat in Asia (WFD RSA)
At the 9th World Congress held in Palermo, Italy, in 1983, according to the request by WFD, to establish a World Federation of the Deaf Regional Secretariat for Asia & the Pacific (WFD RSA/P) was established in Japan. In 2013, WFDRS/A was separated into the WFD Regional Secretariat for Asia (WFD RSA) and the WFD Regional Secretariat for Oceania. WFD RSA has held a Representative Meeting every year, hosted on a rotating basis by member countries. WFD RSA is striving to improve the welfare of deaf people in the Asia region.
Asian Deaf Friendship Aid Project
JFD established an Asian Deaf Friendship Fund in 1996 to commemorate the federation’s 50th anniversary. Based on the principles of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 1993–2002, the fund aims to achieve the full participation and equality of deaf people throughout Asia. JFD has conducted fundraising throughout Japan to support national deaf associations in Asian countries. The fund was renamed the Asian Deaf Friendship Aid Project in 2013, following JFD’s organizational restructuring.