According to Japan‘s Kyodo Press on December 25, the Japanese Cabinet Office recently released a video about sign language that caused intense controversy on the Internet. The content of the video was criticized as having no scientific basis and hurting the feelings of the deaf-mutes. Currently, this video has been deleted.
Japan‘s Cabinet Office. Photographs
According to reports, from December 3 to 9 is Japan‘s Disability Week, and as a routine activity, the Japanese Cabinet Department has collected and released multiple popularized videos. This year, the Cabinet Department collected a total of 7 videos, and after the government‘s review of the content, all 7 videos were released.
However, one of the videos about sign language has caused intense controversy on the Internet. This video, produced by the Tokyo One Sign Language Popularization Group, argues that sign language has functions such as developing the brain and enhancing memory. A representative of the group said in the video, “Focusing on sign language movements can improve attention, and sign language can also make fingers more flexible,”
The report said that part of the content of the video was said to be unscientific and hurt the feelings of the deaf-deaf people. There were comments that the video viewed sign language from the perspective of a healthy person, detaching from the deaf-deaf people who truly need care. “For deaf-deaf people, sign language is not a puzzle game, but a necessary tool in communication.” Kyodo said that the video was strongly attacked online, and the cabinet has currently deleted the video.