The Japanese have blind Ping-Pong

The Japanese have blind Ping-Pong and stoplights that play music: Attending the Seventh Annual Japan/America Grassroots Summit

by Dave Farrell, Principal, Colorado School for the Blind

Recently I had the pleasure of traveling to Japan for ten days with two CSDB upperclassmen, Robert Harding and George McDermith, and a recent graduate, Robin Barnes. We traveled as part of a 160-person contingent from Colorado attending the 7th Annual Grassroots Summit sponsored by the Manjiro Society. The Manjiro Center for International Exchange was formed to encourage the same kind of grass roots exchange that accidentally occurred over 125 years ago when a young Japanese fisherman named Manjiro was rescued at sea by a Captain Whitfield from Fairhaven, Massachusetts. That meeting led to a fruitful exchange between those two men that continues today between their families and their countrymen.

The summit alternates years between the U.S. and Japan. Last year, a group of Japanese people who are deaf visited Colorado Springs, Colorado for the sixth summit. That was the first time that people with disabilities were included in the conference. CSDB staff members served as host families for that visit. Responding to an invitation from the conference planning committee, CSDB staff member Mary Beth Herens coordinated the involvement of four deaf and blind students, and their parents and teachers in this year’s summit. A group of adults from the Longmont Chapter of the ACB were also members of our blindness interest group.

During our ten-day visit to Japan, our subgroup visited students and faculties at Schools for the Blind in Tokyo and in Yamagata Prefecture. Yamagata is a rural area that provided a strong contrast with Tokyo. We met with several groups of Japanese adults who were blind to learn about their lives. And we had the chance to enjoy two, three-day homestays with Japanese families. Our group was completely humbled and overwhelmed by the kindness we were shown throughout the trip. It was a tremendous experience personally and professionally.

I believe we all became committed to the value of this kind of exchange. The conference cost is underwritten by contributions from major Japanese and American corporations. This makes it very affordable to attend. We hope to have another group of students attend the next conference in Japan in 1999. In 1998, the conference will be in Atlanta, Georgia. If anyone would like further information on the conference or help finding email pen pals in Japan, please contact me: Dave Farrell at 719-578-2201 or email <davefarrell@worldnet.att.net>.

Before we left on the trip many teachers asked me to get information on the state of blindness in Japan. To respond to those questions I would like to share with you a portion of a talk given to us by Mr. Nobuo Otomo of the Japanese Association of the Blind. I felt that you might enjoy Mr. Otomo’s eloquent first-hand account. My few comments are in brackets.

KEYNOTE REPORT

by Nobuo Otomo, President of the Japanese Association of the Blind

Population

The population of Japan is about 125 million. From among this, the number of the disabled is about 4,900,000; there are 2,950,000 physically disabled and 1,950,000 mentally handicapped people living in the society. Among the physically disabled, the numbers are divided by the disability, such as arm and leg disabilities, internal function disorder, hearing and speech defects, and visual defects. The number of the blind and visually impaired is about 350,000 and divided into six stages by its degrees. Grade 1 and 2 are considered as the severe visually impaired and have some privilege under the taxation system. Japan’s population is also aging year by year, and the blind and visually impaired over 60 years old accounts for 57 percent of the whole.

Employment

In Japan, according to the law about the employment promotion of the handicapped, private enterprises, governments, and local public organizations have an obligation to hire the handicapped more than the set rate. The employment rate depends on the types of occupation; however, it must be said that the benefit which the visually handicapped have received is extremely low because of their inability to read or write freely.

Occupation

There are many problems in Japan concerning the occupational independence of the blind and visually impaired. Among those impaired, there are people called "the Elite" who are lawyers, programmers, musicians or government employees, but those occupations are not common. The employment rate of the blind and visually impaired reaches only 28 percent, lower than any other handicapped people. The typical kinds of occupation of the those impaired in Japan are acupuncturators, persons who give moxa treatment and massagers. Some people take those licenses and start a business in their houses, or the others are employed at hospitals, clinics, or companies. Recently by the spread of science therapists, getting a job into public hospitals for the blind and visually impaired is becoming more difficult. Therefore the idea newly thought out is employment into companies as "a health keeper" who maintains workers health. About 100 blind and visually impaired massagers have been actively working at middle-sized companies now. The Labor Minister is positively encouraging this idea.

Braille Library

There are 68 braille libraries throughout the nation, with at least one braille library in each prefecture. But now the blind and visually impaired who are able to read braille are decreasing, and the aged and disabled are increasing, so there is a great demand for recording books rather than braille. So, the Braille Library has come to be called Facilities of Offering Information for the Blind and Visually Impaired. However, so braille translation and transliteration cannot possibly be handled only by the library staff, those are greatly indebted to volunteers. In addition, by diversifying of the blind and visually impaired needs, braille on private services like commercial pamphlets or transport timetables are more emphasized nowadays. Also with the progress on network of libraries, even the books which the closest library do not have can be borrowed easily by ordering from other Libraries. Most of the lending services use the mail system, but in city libraries there are some places where the one-on-one private readings have been already put into practice.

Transportation by Foot

There are three main ways for us to get by on foot. The first is by use of a cane, the second is with a seeing eye dog, and the third is with the help of a sighted guide. Folding white canes of various materials and shapes are sold in specialty stores for the blind. At present, there are eight seeing-eye dog training centers throughout the nation and about 850 seeing-eye dogs in Japan. Unfortunately some feel it's too hard to care for the dogs, or that the four-week training seminar required is too long; therefore, there are few requests for the assistance of the dogs. Also there are many inns, restaurants, and taxis that refuse entrance to the dogs. [Mr. Otomo noted that larger stores and businesses are more accepting. The Japanese people value courtesy, and consideration of the group verses the individual. One example of this courtesy is seen in coats covering the torso of guide dogs to contain any hair they may shed.] In large towns and cities, there is a Sighted Guide Dispatch System that provides guides with public funds. However this system is limited to those needing medical assistance or for public gatherings. Also those at higher income levels are required to pay a portion of the fee.

Japanese Roads

Japan is a country with a large population on a small area. Even in the large cities, there are many side roads and back roads with no walkways. In spite of the narrow roads, there are an incredible number of cars. Also, there are some people reluctant to lend a hand to the physically impaired. Therefore many blind and visually impaired must find ways to navigate the roads by themselves. To aid in this, there are comparatively many roads paved with raised blocks (the raised blocks indicate the flow of travel and mark intersections) and stoplights that play music when the light changes. Also train stations are required to have raised blocks on all train platforms. Recently, there is an increase in local residents’ complaints about the noise. from stoplights. As a result, there are new lights equipped to play the music, on demand when there is a visually impaired or elderly person, with plans to increase their numbers. There are also new "melody guides" that play music to indicate entrances to buildings, etc. At night, many use reflective strips on their clothing to reflect the light from cars and warn the drivers.

Computer Use

Computers and other technical devices are widely used by the visually impaired. Translation to braille is gradually changing from slates and braille writers to personal computers. Up until now, the blind were unable to write documents that included kanji (Japanese characters derived from Chinese characters), but although the prices are still a little high, they can now easily write with all three Japanese writing characters using word processors. The Optacon developed in the US is not very well suited to reading Japanese characters. Instead, recently there is a device that reads sentences through a scanner, and by using a Windows 95 program, reproduces it to sound. However due to its high price and imperfections, its use is not widespread among the general population. Dictionaries using CD-ROM are available but its use is usually limited to a few in the student population. There is large increase in the number of blind or visually impaired who use Internet through voice translation software.

Sports

For outside sports, the most popular group game is blind baseball. Using a handball, the rules are similar to softball. Thus it is often called ground softball. As for winter sports, there is skiing. There is a handicapped skiing club that holds competitions twice a year. Jogging and long distance running are popular, and with a partner runner, many participate in all kinds of competitions. Because tandem bikes are limited by law to special cycling roads, it is not very widespread. Inside sports include floor volleyball, very popular among women group sports. Individual sports include blind Ping-Pong, judo, swimming, etc. [We were able to participate in Ping-Pong adapted for the blind and brought back audible balls to allow us to play it here.] In Japan, a National Sports competition is held every year in a different prefecture. The events included are track and field, swimming, Ping-Pong, ground softball, etc. However with the exception of group competitions, the individual is only allowed to compete once in his/her lifetime.

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