FamilyMart Introduces Online Sign Language Interpreting

TOKYO, Nov 05 (News On Japan) - FamilyMart has introduced an online sign language interpreting service ahead of the first-ever Deaflympics to be held in Japan.

The company announced that this is the first such system implemented in convenience stores nationwide, allowing customers with hearing impairments to communicate with store staff through a remote interpreter using their smartphones.

By scanning a QR code placed at the counter, deaf customers can connect online to an interpreter who assists them in communicating smoothly with the clerk for purchases such as coffee or event tickets, enabling complex interactions to proceed without difficulty.

FamilyMart plans to make the service available at stores around the Deaflympics venues until November 30th.

FamilyMart’s Sustainability Promotion Manager Yuko Maeda said: "Convenience stores exist everywhere across Japan’s 47 prefectures and are part of daily life for everyone. We want to continue exploring ways to create a more accessible environment for customers with disabilities."

Source: FNN

Japan Gov't Warns of Possible Megaquake

Japan's weather agency and the Cabinet Office issued a 'Hokkaido-Sanriku Offshore Subsequent Earthquake Advisory' after an earthquake measuring upper 5 on Japan's seismic intensity scale struck off Sanriku.

New Shinkansen Reservation Service Lets Users Book in One Minute

JR East has launched a preview version of its new online Shinkansen booking platform, JRE GO, promising reservations in as little as one minute and easier handling of sudden schedule changes.

Father Claimed Son Was Missing Before Disappearance

A 37-year-old father arrested over the alleged abandonment of his son's body in a forest in Kyoto Prefecture may have contacted associates to say the child had gone missing before the boy's school informed the family, investigators said.

Bear Found in Bushes in Central Sendai Finally Culled

A bear that had remained in a residential area in central Sendai since early Sunday morning was euthanized last night in an emergency cull. No injuries were reported.

Father Admits Killing and Body Abandonment in Kyoto

Police investigating the death of an 11-year-old boy whose body was found in a forest in Kyoto Prefecture believe his father moved the remains between several locations over a number of days in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Education NEWS

Japan Starts Nationwide Test for Sixth Graders and Ninth Graders

Japan's annual National Academic Achievement Test began on Monday for sixth-grade elementary school students and third-year junior high school students nationwide.

Future Takarazuka Performers Take First Step

An entrance ceremony was held on April 18 at the Takarazuka Music School in Hyogo Prefecture, where 40 new students took their first step toward becoming members of the famed Takarazuka Revue.

Japan Is Facing Critical Nurse Shortage

Japan's medical sector is facing an acute shortage of nurses, triggering a wave of ward closures and even hospital shutdowns. Once regarded as an admired profession and often described as 'angels in white,' nurses are now under mounting strain from long working hours and wages many say do not match the demands of the job.

Ronald McDonald Teaches Children Traffic Safety in Akita

In a traffic safety class held at a certified childcare center in Akita, Ronald McDonald made a special appearance, teaching young children how to cross the street safely.

Tokyo University Students Shy Away From Bureaucratic Careers

The number of Tokyo University students pursuing careers as government bureaucrats is declining, even as rising wages in skilled trades and shifts driven by artificial intelligence are reshaping perceptions of high-paying jobs.

Japan Big Chains Dominate Cram Schools

Japan’s cram school industry is seeing a growing divide, with major operators expanding their market share while smaller firms struggle to survive amid declining birthrates and shifting education trends, according to expert analysis.

Private High Schools in Aichi Gain Popularity

An estimated 800 junior high school third-year students and their parents gathered in Nagoya on April 12th to attend a seminar explaining the structure of high school entrance examinations and preparation strategies ahead of next year’s admissions cycle.

WWII-Era Fighter Aircraft Recovered from Sea Decades After Crash Landing

A former Imperial Japanese Navy fighter aircraft that had remained submerged off the coast of Akune City in Kagoshima Prefecture was raised from the seabed on April 9th, marking its first return to land in 81 years since a wartime crash landing during the final stages of World War II.

< 2 3 4 5 >