555 days before the Deaflympics! Special Talk Show with a deaf culture writer, a deaf athlete and an ambassador “’Connecting’ with a World without Sound”（Held on May 9, 2024 ）

A special night limited to 55 people

It is 555 days before the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
On this day, a special talk show “’Connecting’ with a World without Sound” will be held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library, one of the information hubs in Tokyo, where a deaf culture writer, a deaf athlete, and an ambassador will talk about their experiences.

The guest speaker will be Dai Igarashi, the author of the movie “Boku ga Ikiteiru, Futatsu no Sekai,” which is scheduled to be released in September 2024, and CODA, whose parents are both deaf.
Mio Nakata, a member of Japan’s national women’s deaf volleyball team and a gold medalist at past tournaments.
In addition, Nobuharu Asahara, one of Japan’s leading athletics legends and Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics Cheering Ambassador, will be on stage!

Under the theme of “’Connecting’ with a World without Sound”, the guests will talk about communication between the deaf and hearing people, deaf culture, and their thoughts on the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics, which are only 555 days away.

In addition, the Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library, the venue of the event, will hold a special exhibition of materials on the history of the Deaflympics, deaf culture, and deaf-related artworks from May 9 (Thu.) to 30 (Thu.).

The admission of this talk show will be “limited to 55 people (free of charge)”
A special night just for this day and this place…We look forward to seeing you all there!

*Call for participants has been closed

■ Date: May 9th , 2024 (Thu) 19：00～20：00
■ Place: Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library 4th Floor “Multipurpose Hall”
（Postal Code 106-8575 5-7-13 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo）
*Access：https://www.library.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/english/central_library/
■ Spectator: 55 people
*For details on how to apply, go to the bottom of the page.
■ Admission fee: Free
*Transportation costs will be at your own expense.
■ Contents:
(1) Talk show
With the theme of “Connecting”, this is the talk show to discuss various positions and perspectives, such as culture and sports, as a deaf, a coda or a hearing person.
《Talk contents (planned)》
・”Communication between deaf and hearing people” from each perspectives
・Let people know about deaf culture
・”Connecting” which deaf sports bring
・Thoughts on the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics
(2) Q&A session
(3) Photo session

■ Guests： Dai Igarashi, writer
		Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1983. He debuted as an essayist in 2020 with “Shikujiri Kazoku” and as a novelist in 2022 with “Efira wa Oyogi Dasenai”. “Kikoenai hahani kikini iku” was nominated for the 1st Ikiru Book Award. A live-action movie based on the book “30 Things I Thought About After Coming and Going from Deaf Parents to Hearing and Not-Hearing Worlds” is scheduled to be released in September 2024.
Mio Nakata, Deaf Volleyball Japan Women’s National Team
		Born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 2001. Belongs to Shimizu Corporation. Graduated from Kanagawa Prefecture Hiratsuka School for the Deaf and Tokai University. She began playing volleyball in her first year of junior high school and was first invited to play for the deaf Japanese women’s national volleyball team at the age of 15. In 2016, as a freshman in high school, she won the best server award at the Deaf Volleyball World Championships, and in the following year, she led her team to a gold medal at the Samsung 2017 Deaflympics. At Tokai University, she won back-to-back intercollegiate championships in 2021 and 2022. She is working hard to win gold medals at the World Deaf Volleyball Championships in Okinawa 2024 and the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics.
Nobuharu Asahara, Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics Ambassador and former athlete participating in World Athletics Championships
		Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1972. Former representative of Japan’s national athletics sprints team. He has been involved in athletics since high school, and at university he set a Japanese record of 10.19 seconds in the Men’s 100m at the National Sports Festival. He was called the “Japanese Carl Lewis” because of his speed. He has competed in the World Athletics Championships six times. At the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, he became the first Japanese athlete in 28 years to advance to the semifinals in the Men’s 100m. In the 4x100m relay at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, he led the national team to a long-awaited.

<How to Apply>
○ Number of applicants
55 people
*If there are too many applicants, a lottery will be held and the results will be sent to the e-mail registered on the application form by early May 2024.

○ Application period
Fron April 18^th (Thu.) to April 30^th (Tue.) at 23:59 (JST)

○ Application form
*Call for participants has been closed
*Personal information will be properly managed in accordance with the Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance on the Protection of Personal Information and other relevant regulations.

○ Notes
・Information will be guaranteed by sign language interpretation and text interpretation, so that participants can attend regardless of whether they can hear or not.
・There is no participation fee. However, participants are responsible for their own transportation costs. No parking will be provided, so please use public transportation.
・This event will be filmed by the media and organizers. Photographs of the event may be posted on websites and social networking sites.

<Special Exhibition>
In addition to panel displays on the outline and history of the Deaflympics, various materials on deaf culture will be exhibited. A special exhibition that will also include deaf-related artworks, etc., will be held for a limited time only.
■ Period: From May 9^th (Thu.) to May 30^th (Thu.), 2024
 Weekdays 10:00 – 21:00, Weekend and holidays 10:00 – 17:30
*Closed on May 17^th (Fri.)
■ Place: Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library 1^st Floor “Central Hall”
（Postal Code 106-8575 5-7-13 Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo）
■ Admission fee: Free
■ Cooperated by： Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library, Tokyo Federation of Deaf