Japanese Sign Language

Japanese Sign Language (日本手話, Nihon Shuwa), also known as JSL^[2] or NS,^[3] is the main sign language in Japan.

Japanese Sign Language
Native to	Japan
Native speakers	320,000 (1986)[1]
Language family	Japanese Sign Language family Japanese Sign Language
Official status
Regulated by	Japanese Federation of the Deaf
Language codes
ISO 639-3	jsl

History

The Tokyo School for the Blind and Deaf, circa 1900

In 1878, the first school for the deaf was established in Kyoto.

In 1900, the Tokyo School for the Deaf (東京都立ろう学校, Tokyo ro-a gakko) was founded.

In 1948, Deaf children were required to attend school.^[4]

In the late-20th century, Japanese sign language began to be recognized.^[5]

The Japanese Federation of the Deaf is for those Japanese whose primary language is JSL.^[6]

JSL has a friend in the Imperial family. Kiko, Princess Akishino has studied JSL and is a trained sign language interpreter.^[7] She also signs in informal Deaf gatherings.^[8]

In 2006, the Japanese government amended the "Supporting Independence of People with Disabilities Act." The new language in the law encourages local governments to increase the number and use of JSL interpreters.^[9]

Elements of Japanese Sign Language (JSL)

As in other sign languages, JSL (usually called simply 手話 shuwa, "hand talk") consists of words, or signs, and the grammar with which they are put together.

Examples of JSL signs

• 
  A noun: "bicycle"
• 
  A verb: "to be"
• 
  A Chinese character: "middle" (中, naka, chū)
• 
  A grammatical particle: interrogative sentence ending