A Bolt From the Blue – Unexpected heavy downpour ravaged 28 families of the Deaf in 3 prefectures of Niigata, Fukushima and Fukui

Posted on August 1, 2004 in disaster relief, Japanese Deaf News

from August 2004 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

Mobile phones prove to be most useful, and fax machines less so

A torrential rainfall caused by the active seasonal rain front ravaged three prefectures of Niigata, Fukushima and Fukui. As of July 26, it is confirmed that there were no injuries to any Deaf people or to sign interpreters. 28 families of the Deaf in Niigata and Fukushima, were however, reported to be flooded above or below floor level.

Spending a night on top of a car roof

Home of Mr Katsuya Haga, chairman of Sanjo
Deaf Welfare Society in Niigata. The flood
water reached the level where he is pointing at.

In Niigata Prefecture, damages concentrated in the cities of Sanjo and Mitsuke, and the town of Nakanoshima. Casualties among the Deaf were 16 floodings above floor level and 2 below. Many Deaf people live in Sanjo City. Every road there was covered with water up to knee or to chest level and roads leading to Sanjo were so congested that it was difficult to reach the devastated area. In such circumstances, leaders of the local sign language study group took the initiative in confirming the safety of the Deaf in the community.

Many facsimile machines went underwater and became useless, while sending and receiving text messages through mobile phones proved most useful in confirming safety and exchanging information. On the other hand, people without mobile phones spent worrisome days, not having means to communicate with others.

The first floor of the home of Mr Katsuya Haga, chairman of Sanjo Deaf Welfare Society, was flooded. A new facsimile machine was brought to his home by the Niigata Deaf Association. A deaf person who spent a night on the roof of his car submerged underwater said, “My wet body became cold and it was scary because it was so dark around.”

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Aspirations and Dreams for A Better Deaf Education

Posted on May 1, 2004 in education, Japanese Deaf News

from May 2004 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

Every year, schools throughout the country employ new teachers to prepare for the new school year (which begins on April 1 in Japan). A survey has revealed that this year, at least 12 Deaf teachers have been employed by the public education system to teach in Deaf schools throughout Japan. It is the first time in history that over 10 Deaf teachers were newly hired in a single year.

12 New Deaf Teachers to Start Teaching in Deaf Schools

The big news is that Deaf teachers have been employed for the first time by 6 prefectures: Iwate, Nagano, Yamanashi, Gifu, Miyazaki, and Nagasaki. Aichi Prefecture has also hired a Deaf teacher for the first time in 70 years. On the island of Kyushu, Deaf teachers specializing in Physical Education and English have been employed.

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Asian Deaf Friendship Fund Decides to Support the Deaf in Cambodia

Posted on May 1, 2004 in international activities, Japanese Deaf News

from May 2004 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

DDP Assistant Programme Manager Mr. So Sereyvuth explaining the
situation of Cambodia to ADFF Committee member Mr. Ogura.

Representing the Japanese Federation of the Deaf, Asian Deaf Friendship Fund Committee members, Takeo Ogura and Yutaka Osugi, visited Cambodia from March 29 to April 1. The two were able to get firsthand information on the management and activities of the Cambodian Disabled People’s Organization (CDPO) as well as on the support offered by the Deaf Development Program (DDP) under Maryknoll, and to confirm that the purpose of DDP’s request for funding aid is to establish a facility for providing vocational training.

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Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Influences Business Run by Deaf Poultry Breeder

Posted on April 1, 2004 in other, Japanese Deaf News

from April 2004 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

Mr. Iwabayashi sterilizing his chicken house

Ever since a poultry farm in Tamba, Kyoto was infected by the bird flu in February, business has been difficult for surrounding poultry breeders, including Mr. Kazuo Iwabayashi (age 54), a Deaf poultry breeder operating a small business in this area.

On Feb. 28th, the government decided to prohibit the shipment of eggs or poultry meat from all farms located within 30km from the infected poultry meat processing company. Mr. Iwabayashi’s farm was located within this area. On March 2nd, the restricted area was reduced to farms within 5km from the infected company, and Mr. Iwabayashi was able to resume shipment of his products. However, during the 4-day ban, a total of 20,000 eggs were withheld from shipment.

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Recent movements related to the UN Adhoc Committee Working Group draft of the Convention on Persons with Disabilities

Posted on April 1, 2004 in Convention on Persons with Disabilities, Online Resources

Dr. Yutaka Osugi, Executive Director of JFD Headquarters, at the recently
held strategic conference of disability NGOs, explaining the standpoint of
the World Federation of the Deaf

The United Nations has started working on the consideration of a convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. The Ad Hoc Committee to consider the convention established a Working Group for the drafting of the convention text. The Working Group produced a draft for the convention on January, 2004. On March 26, the World Federation of the Deaf announced its official comments on the draft convention and its proposals for changes (below).

In Japan, disability related NGOs held a strategic conference to consider the draft convention text (organized by the Japan Disability Forum Preparation Committee) on March 27-28. At this conference, the Japanese Federation of the Deaf introduced the official WFD comments and proposals for changes.

Concerning the definition of “language”, it was suggested that WFD make use of Article 27 of the “UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights” (below). Concerning the right to education, it was pointed out that there should be further research on the appropriateness of classifying languages into sign language, spoken language, and written language. Prior to discussions with the Japanese government, scheduled to be held on April 28, the Japanese Federation of the Deaf will cooperate with other disability related NGOs to hold further discussions on the convention draft, especially in relation to the “definition of language”, “information/communication”, and “education”.

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The 35th National Winter Games for the Deaf

Posted on April 1, 2004 in sports and Deaflympics, Japanese Deaf News

from April 2004 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

Heated Competition and Warm Friendship on Mt. Tateyama

Women’s Snowboard Slalom Medalists (from left): 3rd place Ms. Imanishi
(Osaka), 1st place Ms. Kato (Tokyo), 2nd place Ms. Motoki (Nagano)

The 35th National Winter Games for the Deaf (organized by the Japanese Federation of the Deaf and hosted by Toyama Deaf Welfare Association) was held for 4 days (February 26-29) in Gokurakuzaka Skiing Area in Oyama-cho, Toyama Prefecture.

Competitions were held in three categories: Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding and Technique. 87 athletes from all over Japan (except for the 2 blocks of Chugoku and Kyushu) participated.

The courses of the 2000 National Athletic Meet were made available for the games and athletes gallantly challenged the courses that require high techniques.

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Lectures by International Sign Interpreter Bill Moody – “Is International Sign a Language?”

Posted on March 1, 2004 in other, Japanese Deaf News

from March 2004 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

Current Situation and Outlook

Bill Moody giving an impressive presentation on International Sign

International Sign interpreter Bill Moody gave lectures at a meeting organized by the International Committee of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf on February 7th and also at the 4th Sigh Language Research Seminar held by the Japan Institute for Sign Language Studies (JSLS) on the 8th.

Both lectures took place in Creo Osaka East in Osaka City and each was attended by roughly 90 people including the members of JSLS.

Moody talked about the activities in the late 1970’s France to promote awareness on Sign Language and about the contents of ASL interpreter training courses in the US.

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Standpoint of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf Concerning the “Petition for Redress of Human Rights”

Posted on November 1, 2003 in statements, Japanese Deaf News

from November 2003 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

Statement by the Japanese Federation of the Deaf – October 17, 2003

A “Petition for Redress of Human Rights” was submitted to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations in May 2003. The pleaders were 107 Deaf children and parents. Their claim is that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (hereafter called MEXT) should recognize and approve the use of “Japanese Sign Language” for teaching in Deaf schools, to give training in “Japanese Sign Language” to teachers in Deaf schools, and to include “Japanese Sign Language” as one of the subject for training teachers of Deaf schools.

This Petition was taken up extensively by the media. At the 2003 General Assembly of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf (hereafter called JFD), many members expressed concern about the consistency of the contents of the Petition and the Deaf movement led by JFD. The following explains the standpoint of JFD concerning this issue:

Sign Language is indispensable for the linguistic development of Deaf children. Sign Language is needed for Deaf children to be empowered to live with a proper understanding and awareness of their disability. Based on this concept, JFD established its Education Section at an early stage in its history, and has been advocating strongly with MEXT for the use of Sign Language in Deaf schools. In order to develop mutual understanding with people involved in the education field, JFD has been holding the “Future of Deaf Education Study Conference” once every year since 1989. With the basic theme of “Use of Sign Language in Deaf Schools”, JFD has held numerous discussions and exchanges of opinions with teachers of Deaf schools.

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Report by Eiichi Takada on the Regional Workshop towards a Comprehensive and Integral International Conventionon Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities

Posted on November 1, 2003 in Convention on Persons with Disabilities, Online Resources

Regional Workshop towards a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities Bangkok, Thailand, 14-17 October 2003

Report by WFD Honorary Board Member and JFD Board Member Eiichi Takada

workshop discussions in progress (Mr. Eiichi Takada on bottom left)

The above Workshop on the “Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities” was held for 4 days from Oct. 14 (Tues) to Oct. 17 (Fri), 2003 in the UN Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand. As the outcome of this Workshop, the participants adopted a Convention Draft to be submitted from UN ESCAP to the UN Ad Hoc Committee on a “Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities” (to be called the “Bangkok Draft”). This Workshop was sponsored by the Japanese government.

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Peace Message Delivered in Sign Language…

Posted on September 1, 2003 in other, Japanese Deaf News

from September 2003 Issue of Japanese Deaf News, JFD’s monthly newspaper:

…by A Deaf Survivor at the A-Bomb Memorial Peace Ceremony in Nagasaki

Ms. Eiko Yamazaki delivering her
“Peace Message” in Sign Language
(Photo provided by the Nagasaki News)

“My responsibility as a survivor of the atomic-bombing, is to continue to speak on behalf of the many Deaf hibakusha who died… to continue to speak about all the things that I saw and felt.”

On August 9, at the 58th Peace Ceremony in Nagasaki in Memory of the Victims of the Atomic Bomb, a Deaf lady, Ms. Eiko Yamazaki, 76, represented the surviving A-bomb victims and delivered her “Peace Message” in sign language. Ms. Yamazaki used her hands and body eloquently and succeeded in conveying the full impact of her experiences and importance of her message. Her Peace Message in sign language touched the hearts of the participants and many looked on with tears in their eyes.

The appointment of a Deaf person to deliver the Peace Message on behalf of the surviving A-bomb victims was the result of persevering peace activities conducted by the Nagasaki Association of the Deaf and the Nagasaki Division of the National Study Association for Sign Language Interpretation. Such endeavors were recognized by other hibakusha groups and led to the realization of Ms. Yamazaki’s Peace Message.

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