The Situation ofSign Language Interpretationin JAPAN(2014)

President of NRASLI

President of JASLI

Yoshiro ISHIKAWA

Eiko OGURAA Brief History ofSign Language Interpretation
 Teachers of schools for the Deaf, individuals infamilies with Deaf members, and those proficient insign language took on the task of sign language
interpretation before the 1960’s.
 A sign language study group was formed in Kyoto
in 1963. After that, the movement spread all overthe country and the number of sign language study
groups increased.
 The first sign language interpreters’ meeting washeld in Fukushima Prefecture in 1968.
 In 1970, the Japanese government began thefinancial support and promotion of sign language
services.

 The National Research Association for SignLanguage Interpretation (NRASLI) wasestablished in 1974.
 Demand for professional sign language
interpreters increased due to the positive
influence of the “International Year of Disabled
Persons” in 1980.
 JFD appealed for the necessity of a sign
language interpreting system to thegovernment and to the populace.
 The Sign Language Interpreter Certificate
Examination (SLICE) authorized by theJapanese government was first administered in1989.

The Japanese Association of Sign Language
Interpreters (JASLI) was established in 1991.
 The sign language interpretation system experienced
continued growth and improvement during the firstdecade of the new millennium.
 There will always be a need for further improvement.
 In order to ratify "Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities“, the government enacted newmunicipal laws this decade.
 In January, 2014, the "Convention on the Rights ofPersons with Disabilities” was ratified.
In the spirit of these historical landmarks , thecontinuing development of the sign language
interpretation system is keenly anticipated.

Japan has two sign language
interpreters' organizations.
 Both are WASLI members

・ NRASLI ーThe National Research Associationfor Sign Language Interpretation
・JASLI ー The Japanese Association of Sign
Language Interpreters Not only sign language interpreters but also signlanguage learners, researchers and othercolleagues who dedicate themselves to JSL arethe members of NRASLI.
 Only those who passed the certificate exam
SLICE are eligible to become members of JASLI.

The two organizations cooperate withthe Japanese Federation of the Deaf Annual membership fee:・NRASLI – about US$100
・JASLI – about US$88
 Number of members:

・NRASLI – 11,000
・JASLI – 2,500*Most of JASLI members
belong to NRASLI.

The logo of NRASLIThe logo of JASLIThe number of sign language
interpreters in JAPAN Nationally certified : about 3,300
 Prefectural District certified: about 4,000- 5,000
 Employed SL interpreters : about 1,500

We think that 4000 professional employedsign language interpreters are required tomeet the desired levels of nation-wide service.

The cities, towns and villages which
are undertaking the sign-language
interpreting business account for
74.4%.

Japanese government announcement

The cities, towns and villages which
employ the sign language interpreters
are 30.8% in average.

Japanese government announcement

The sign language interpreters
needed in Japan●All the cities, towns and villages (total number1800),and prefectures(47) install professional sign
language interpreters.
Now : 1500 persons

Future : 4000 persons●

The sign language interpreters need to bewell educated and have special skills asprofessionals.

Three organizations are working
together to…
Realize the fundamental principles ofthe "Convention on the Rights ofPersons with Disabilities”
In order to protect the rights of the President of JDF
Deaf, it is crucial to spread theFujisaburo ISHINO
awareness of the importance ofsign language services for theToward
Deaf, and to increase the number
the achievement ofof sign language learners, sign
“ Sign Language
language interpreting learners,and professional sign language
Law”!
interpreters .

Mt.Fuji

Sirakawago GIFU

SHIZUOKA

Heartily thanks
Miyajima HIROSHIMAWorld 《Cultural, Natural》 Heritage in Japan