Deaf news: Japanese documentary about deaf surf-shop owner set for premiere

A Japanese documentary about a deaf surf-shop owner is set to premiere in Tokyo, and from reading this fantastic article abut the film in the Japan Times, I for one would really love to see the film over here.

Coffee and a Pencil is all about Tatsuro Ota, a 49 year old surf and Hawaiian goods shop owner who seems to be able to relate to his customers remarkably easily, across the language barrier (he’s a profoundly deaf sign language user).

The film was made by deaf documentary maker Ayako Inamura, who has made over 30 documentaries and is currently working on a documentary about how deaf people were affected in the aftermath of the Japanese earthquakes.

Posted by: Charlie Swinbourne (editor)

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