Japanese Federation of the Deaf

The Japanese Federation of the Deaf (全日本ろうあ連盟, Zaidan hōjin zen-nihon rōa renmei) (JFD) is the national organization of the Deaf in Japan.[1] JFD is also a member organization of the World Federation of the Deaf.[2]

Japanese Federation of the Deaf
FoundedMay 25, 1947
Location
  • SK Bldg. 8F, 130 Yamabuki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-0801, Japan
Area served
Japan
Key people
Fujisaburo Ishino, President
Websitehttp://www.jfd.or.jp/en/

The JFD supports Deaf culture in Japan and works to revise laws that prevent the Deaf in Japan from participating in various professions and activities.[3] In addition, JFD helps to incorporate Japanese Sign Language into education systems for the Deaf and supports the sign language interpreter system.

The JFD is a politically independent national organization with limited financial resources. The 47 prefectural associations are organized in ways which constrain political action, but which are able to access to government funding which benefits its members and related constituencies.[4]

The JFD has influenced the government to pass laws for the welfare of the Deaf and implementation of the Sign Language interpreter system.[5]

History

The JFD was founded May 25, 1947 and held its first National Congress in Kyoto May 10, 1948. Its pre-war roots arise from the Japanese Association of the Deaf, which was established in 1915 by alumni of the Tokyo School for the Deaf.[6]

As times changed, the JFD officially registered with the Ministry of Health and Welfare May 20, 1950.[6]

Throughout its history the JFD has held many conferences and events for the deaf in Japan, including sporting events and legal seminars.

In 1968 a campaign was organized by the JFD to pressure the government of Japan to allow the Deaf the right to obtain driver's licences, a right that had been withheld due to the Deaf's legal status as "quasi-incompetent persons".[7]

In 1969 The JFD began publishing text books and other learning materials relating to sign language and Deafness and continues to publish newsletters and updated text books today. The JFD began giving certification exams for sign interpreters in 1976 and helped establish the National Training Institution of Sign Language in 2002 for the purpose of educating sign language interpreters.[8]

As a result of the classification the Deaf as "quasi-incompetent persons" they were considered "incompetent due to diminished mental and/or physical capacity and wasteful habit".[9] They were not allowed to perform legal acts related to property and were not able to apply for housing loans nor to succeed family businesses. This status was challenged by the JFD, and in 1979 they succeeded in having Article 11 of Japan's Civil Code amended; thereby allowing the Deaf to participate as fully functional persons in legal matters.[10]

In 2006, the National Police Agency began the process of revising Japanese laws about issuing driver licenses to persons with deafness.[11]

Seahorse logo and mascot
The seahorse logo of the Deaf community in Japan

The seahorse is the recognized symbol of the Deaf community in Japan.[12] According to Japanese legend, dragons have no ears and are deaf. The ears of the dragons fell into the ocean, where they became seahorses. The former "dragons ears" are graphically represented by the seahorse as the JFD logo and mascot;[13] and the graphic mark is also found in other Deaf community logos. For example, the JFD seahorse graphic has been incorporated in the logos of other subsequently formed Deaf organizations, such as the Tokyo Federation of the Deaf[14] and the Japanese Deaf Table Tennis Association.[15]

Network of relationships

The Federation has member associations in all 47 Japanese prefectures, which are coordinated on the national level by the General Assembly and the Board of Directors of the JFD.

In addition, JFD also works closely with the National Research Association for Sign Language Interpretation, the Japanese Association of Sign Language Interpreters (JASI), and the National Center of Sign Language Education.[8]

The JFD has offices in both Tokyo and Kyoto.

International context

As a member of the World Federation of the Deaf, which has consultative status with the United Nations, the JFD works to bring the views of the Deaf in Japan to the international level.[16]

Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

The JFD's networks of relationships were challenged and strengthened by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[17] The JFD were also among those arranging relief supplies for survivors.[18]

During the crisis, the Japanese government provided JSL interpreting at press conferences related to the earthquake and tsunami.[19] Television broadcasts of the press conferences of Prime Minister Naoto Kan and the Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano included simultaneous JSL interpreters standing next to the Japanese flag on the same platform.[20]

Notes
  1. The literal translation of Zaidan hōjin zen-nihon rōa renmei is "Incorporated Foundation, Japanese Deaf-Mute Foundation"
  2. "World Federation of the Deaf member organizations". Archived from the original on 5 September 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  3. Nakamura, Karen. "Resistance and Co-optation: the Japanese Federation of the Deaf and its Relations with State Power," Social Science Japan Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1 (April 2002), pp 17-35.
  4. Nakamura, "Resistance ...," p. 18.
  5. Nakamura, "Resistance ...," p. 17 (abstract).
  6. Nakamura, "Resistance ...," p. 20.
  7. Wilhelm Röhl (2005). History of law in Japan since 1868, Part 5, Volume 12. ISBN 978-90-04-13164-4. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  8. Japanese Association of Sign Language Interpreters, Introduction Archived 2010-11-07 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Hiroshi Oda (1997). Basic Japanese laws. ISBN 978-0-19-825686-1. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  10. Nakamura, Deaf ..., p. 109.
  11. "Hearing-impaired may drive soon," Archived 2006-04-22 at the Wayback Machine Japan Times. April 16, 2006.
  12. City of Yokohama, Health and Welfare Bureau: seahorse among disability icons Archived 2010-06-08 at the Wayback Machine
  13. Nakamura, Karen. (2006). Deaf in Japan: Signing and the Politics of Identity, p. 38.
  14. Tokyo Federation of the Deaf, logo Archived 2010-10-08 at the Wayback Machine — see bottom of webpage, text excerpt: その中にあるタツノオトシゴは聴覚障害者を象徴 (translation: "Seahorses are a symbol ...."
  15. Japanese Deaf Table Tennis Association, logo Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine
  16. "World federation of the Deaf's entry on the website of the United Nations". Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  17. "JFD: Report meeting related to Deaf relief at headquarters," Archived 2011-08-14 at the Wayback Machine Deaf News Japan. March 30, 2011, retrieved 2011-04-14; "Japanese Federation of the Deaf starts the earthquake rescue operation," Deaf News Japan. March 20, 2011, retrieved 2011-04-14.
  18. "JFD: Report on the relief supply project," Archived 2016-07-08 at the Wayback Machine Deaf News Japan. March 29, 2011, retrieved 2011-04-14
  19. "First interpreting at government press conference on disaster," Archived 2011-04-21 at the Wayback Machine Deaf News Japan. March 20, 2011, retrieved 2011-04-14.
  20. "Japan Relief Headquarters for Persons with Disabilities Petition for Support and Accommodation Following Earthquake," Archived 2011-04-21 at the Wayback Machine United States International Council on Disabilities (USICD), March 17, 2011, retrieved 2011-04-14; "Japan's PM set to visit crippled nuclear plant," CTV (Canada). 1 April 2011; see photo, retrieved 2011-04-14.

References
  • Nakamura, Karen. (2006). Deaf in Japan: Signing and the Politics of Identity. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801443503; ISBN 9780801473562; OCLC 238810838

Further reading
  • Japanese Federation of the Deaf. (1996). Renmei no Genzai (The Current State of the Federation). Tokyo:
  • __________. (1997). 50-nen no Ayumi Shoshite Mirai e (Our 50 Year History and Future). Tokyo:
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