Sankei Shimbun January 16, 2010

Coming Together
Deaf Life Japan Magazine Celebrates
Inaugural Issue with Party
at Hotel Laforet Tokyo, January 9, 2010
Creating a Publication that Deaf and Hearing People
Can Enjoy Alike
By Tomoko Iizuka

  The inauguration of bi-monthly magazine Deaf Life Japan was greeted with enthusiastic, yet quiet “applause.” Some 100 people, mostly hearing impaired, came together to celebrate the birth of the Japanese version of the US monthly magazine Deaf Life, which has a history of 25 years.
   Headed by Yasuko Sato (37), the entire seven-member editorial team is deaf. Two years ago, Sato met founder of the American magazine Matthew Moore (51), and the two hit it off. Then from May last year, things really started to take shape, culminating in today’s inauguration.
   Editor-in-chief of the US Deaf Life, Matthew Moore addressed those present at the inauguration party in Japanese sign language: “Twenty-five years ago, there wasn’t a reader-friendly publication for the deaf community, so I published Deaf Life in the hope that it would act as a bridge between deaf and hearing people. There were many ups and downs along the way, but the fact that we have managed to publish it all this time is an indication of the degree of understanding and respect it has garnered.” The American Deaf Life has a current circulation of 20,000, and carries interviews with deaf people active in all parts of society. Its popular Q&A section introducing different aspects of the deaf community to hearing people is of particular note.
   The Japanese magazine has essentially adopted the same title and design as the American publication, and is initially being published as a bi-monthly. In addition to profiles of each of the editorial staff members, the inaugural edition also contains interviews with a deaf potter and film director, as well as a special feature on the Taipei Deaflympics. Abound with numerous photos and 87 full-color pages, the publication is notable for not treating deaf people in any special way.
   Says Sato, “We wanted to drop the ‘social welfare’ aspect and simply present the deaf community as it is, without glossing over anything. I want the magazine to function as a stimulus to show everyone what deaf people are capable of. And I also want it to be a magazine that both deaf and hearing people can enjoy alike.” It is with this feeling that, despite the slump that the publishing industry is experiencing, the people at Deaf Life Japan feel it is important to publish the magazine in a physical printed format, rather than as a less tangible Web publication.
   The magazine is priced at 500 yen an issue. Currently, only one year subscriptions (6 issues; 3,500 yen, including postage) are available. Interested parties should send a fax to 03-3703-5982, and include their own fax number.

Caption
Editorial staff of Deaf Life Japan; Editor-in-chief Yasuko Sato is second from left, rear row (Shinagawa, Tokyo)