The Deaflympics, an international sporting event for the deaf and hard of hearing, will be held in Japan for the first time in November 2025. The vision of the Games is “the realization of a symbiotic society where everyone can make the most of their individuality and demonstrate their abilities,” which is also linked to JICA’s goal of building a peaceful society where all people can enjoy sports. We will consider the significance of the Games from the perspective of the people who support the big event.
23rd Summer Deaflympics Samsun 2017 = Courtesy of All Japan Federation of the Deaf
Visible” Support for Athletes Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
The soccer referee blows his whistle and raises his flag or hand to call a foul. Instead of cheering, the spectators in the stands wave their hands loudly in encouragement to the athletes.
The Deaflympics, which is a combination of the words “Deaf” and “Olympics,” is an international sporting event held every four years by the International Commission on Sports for the Deaf (ICSD). Deaf people cannot understand sound and voice information, so “information security” is provided to enable them to visually understand cues and other information.
Because the handicap of not being able to hear is invisible, hearing people do not fully understand what kind of inconvenience it is. The same is true in all aspects of daily life. The purpose of the Deaflympics is to expand the understanding of the Deaf both in Japan and abroad.
Referees also use flags in soccer games = Courtesy of the All Japan Federation of the Deaf
The Games began in Paris in 1924, and the 25th Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics will mark the 100th anniversary of the Games, bringing Deaf athletes from some 80 countries and regions to Japan for 12 days from November 15, 2025 to compete in 21 events.
JICA, which works on social participation of people with disabilities in developing countries, has many people involved in this tournament. Some accompany athletes from countries where they have been dispatched as Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) as interpreters. Those who participate as volunteer sign language interpreters, and those who watch the success of contestants they once coached at their post. ……
Among them, Meiri Hirose, a former JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteer, has been deeply involved in the organization of the event as a director of the Japan Deaf Athletics Association, and has been looking forward to the first event in Japan.
You don’t have to give up.”
As a congenitally deaf person, Mr. Hirose traveled abroad as a backpacker when he was a student and deepened exchanges with deaf people in various countries. When she learned of the plight of Deaf people in developing countries who could not find work and were not recognized by society, she applied to join the cooperative, hoping to “create a society where Deaf people can live without barriers with hearing people.
For two and a half years, starting in 2013, I taught at a school for the Deaf in La Romana, Dominican Republic. What I noticed was that both teachers and parents assumed that Deaf children could not do anything. The children had lost confidence in themselves due to the lack of understanding of those around them. Ms. Hirose worked to change this situation while encouraging the children to “not give up on various things” and to nurture a spirit of independence.
Ms. Meiri Hirose, who is working in the Dominican Republic as a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV), courtesy of Ms. Hirose.
After returning to Japan, Mr. Hirose established the NPO “Yes, Deaf Can! The organization raises funds through events and provides small loans to Deaf people who want to start their own businesses to support their independence. A general incorporated association, “Natsuko Yorai,” has also been started to promote sign language.
When I applied for the cooperative, I was asked, “Can a deaf person do this?” But I didn’t give up. But I did not give up. I had a lot of hardships, but looking back, I am filled with gratitude to JICA for sending me. I hope that more Deaf people will follow in my footsteps.
Mr. Hirose spoke in sign language.
The “start ramp” was born out of tears of frustration.
A red light means “on your mark” (in position). When it turns yellow, it means “set” (ready). The moment it turns green is “Go! （Start! –The moment it turns green is “Go!
At competitions, a device called a “start lamp” is used to signal with light. It is used in track and field events. The developer is Mr. Masahisa Takemi, a senior high school teacher at Tokyo Metropolitan Chuo School for the Deaf and deputy secretary general of the association.
It all started with the tears of frustration of one female student. She was competing in a match with a hearing person and could not hear the referee’s signal, so she had to start off when she saw the other players running. Seeing this, Takemi realized that “only those who can hear are able to play sports fairly. It is not fair that only those who can hear can compete in a sport.
Start ramp = Courtesy of Japan Deaf Athletics Association
Start ramps are gradually being introduced in Japan at sports facilities. However, due to their high cost, there are few opportunities for athletes and children in developing countries to use them.
Children from the Dominican Republic who ran
I wish the children of the Dominican Republic could use this!”
Fall 2024. Melenciano Christopher of the Dominican Republic, participating in an international competition in Tokyo, saw the start ramp and felt strongly about this. He was the gold medalist in the men’s 200 meters at the last Deaflympics.
Merenciano Christopher of the Dominican Republic, who participated in the 24th Deaflympics in Brazil and won gold in the men’s 200 meters.
With the enthusiastic offer, the association’s “Connecting StarTramp with the World” project was set in motion. In February 2025, a donation ceremony was held at the site, attended by Mr. Hirose, Mr. Takemi, and Christopher.
The Deaf School held a Deaf Athletics Class. Mr. Hirose looks back.
The moment the start lamp popped on, all the children ran off at once, looking like they were really enjoying themselves. Christopher was also very emotional. He always competed in track and field meets for the hearing impaired, and he was lonely.”
Christopher said, “I want to be a role model and have many more players follow in my footsteps.
Start Ramp Presentation Ceremony in the Dominican Republic = Courtesy of Japan Deaf Athletics Association Deaf Athletics Class held in the Dominican Republic = Courtesy of Japan Deaf Athletics Association
Supporting Foreign Visitors to Japan with Sign Languages of Various Countries
During the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics, Hirose will be involved in a variety of tasks.
First of all, in my role as a director of the association, I am responsible for the management of the convention, overseeing about 10 international sign language interpreters involved in athletics. The means of communication for athletes and officials is sign language, which differs from country to country and region to region, so international sign language plays an active role in international competitions.
We are also cooperating with the Nippon Foundation Telephone Relay Service for a limited period of time during this year’s Games to provide support for foreign sign language support through the telephone relay service. This is an initiative in which foreign Deaf people living in Japan provide sign language support to athletes and spectators from their home countries. For example, an American client uses a smartphone to tell an American Sign Language-speaking supporter that he/she wants to make a reservation at a restaurant. The supporter then makes the reservation in Japanese sign language via the sign language interpreter operator of the telephone relay service.
Support system for foreign sign language support using the telephone relay service during the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics (courtesy of the Nippon Foundation Telephone Relay Service)
We are expecting many Deaf tourists to visit the Deaflympics. Japanese people are very hospitable, so we have prepared for them to feel at ease during their stay.”
Sports connects people to the world.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 430 million people worldwide with some form of hearing impairment. This is approximately 1 in 20 people. It is estimated that only 1 in 100 people use sign language on a daily basis.
Through this event, Hirose hopes that the understanding of what it means to be deaf will expand, and that deaf children will gain confidence in their desire to compete in the Deaflympics and work abroad in the future.
The Deaflympics will connect countries, people to people, and “the hearing” to “the deaf. This is the wish of the world’s deaf people who believe in the power of sports.
© Source JICA