Hearing Japanese Woman, Bridges the Gap

With only six weeks to explore Japan, so many locals kept asking us “Why would you spend a week in Kochi of all places!?”

Kochi is a smaller non-touristy city off the beaten track from the ‘bright lights, big city’ atmosphere of Tokyo and Osaka. But it was the motivation, commitment, and unprecedented generousity of a woman named Koko that brought us there.

Koko, a hearing woman fantastically fluent in spoken/written Japanese and English, has always been an intermediary for those two worlds. Throughout her life, Koko has been sensitive and passionate about breaking down barriers of race, gender, and cultural diversity, yet has had minimal exposure to the deaf community (common for most hearing people). But when Koko heard about our project through a mutual friend, she decided to roll up her sleeves, get involved and fulfill a new curiosity.

Offering to be our personal coordinator and interpreter for the week, Koko arranged visits to the Kochi Deaf School, Kochi Deaf Association, and a meeting with an inspirational calligrapher named Shunsuke where local TV and newspaper reporters joined (see previous blog). She also earned permission for us to visit & interview deaf employees at a local hospital and hearing aid company…and even tapped into family connections to line up a short DDW presentation at the Kochi Rotary Club International!

In between visits, Koko and her equally dedicated mother Kihoko, began learning Japanese and American Sign Languages. We all learned incredible amounts about the educational opportunities and communication access for deaf people in Kochi. Watching Koko jump right in head-first to meet and learn about the Kochi deaf community shows she is bridging the gap, not only between Japanese and Western culture, but between deaf and hearing subcultures as well.

Through people like Koko, a ripple effect of awareness is created. She is now working on an article of her experience to submit to the local newspaper.


Photos:
Koko interpreting at Shunsuke's house
Kochi Rotary Club International with President Morimoto-san and our generous host Sugimoto-san
Kihoko & Koko sharing a traditional Japanese lunch