What is a sign language phone? Free public phones in Japan that can be used to talk in sign language.

Although they are less common these days, public telephones can be used by anyone who puts in money.
Sign language phones are such public telephones that support sign language.

The sign language phone uses a telephone relay service, and even if the person you wish to call does not speak sign language, the operator will translate the sign language into the other person's language.

Let's see what such a sign language phone is like.

Please refer to "What is the Telephone Relay Service? A service that allows people in Japan who cannot hear to make phone calls to people who can hear" for a description of the telephone relay service in Japan.

And sign language services are summarized in "For services using Japanese Sign Language and sign language interpretation services".
Please refer to it too.

Sign Language Phone Overview

Sign language phones are public telephones for people with hearing disabilities.
It allows the user to call a person using sign language.

Usually, you have to pay for a public telephone that uses voice, but the sign language phone can be used free of charge.

The sign language phone is equipped with a monitor and a camera, and an operator who interprets the sign language is transferred to the monitor.
That person is able to interpret your communication with the other party in sign language.

This is called a telephone relay service.
However, the sign language phone can be used without pre-registration for the telephone relay service.

How to use the sign language phone

The use and flow of the sign language phone is as follows

1. The sign language phone is a telephone box, so the first step is to enter the box.
2. Enter the phone number of the person you wish to call and press the call button.
3. You will be connected to an operator who will provide sign language interpretation.
4. Tell the operator the name and location of the person you are calling
5. Operator contacts the other party and interpretation begins

The process is simple and easy to understand.

Sign Language Phone Locations in Japan

Sign language phones are currently available at the following locations

• Haneda Airport
• Narita Airport
• Fukuoka Airport
• New Chitose Airport
• Tsukuba University of Technology
• Akashi Civic Plaza

If more of them were installed in various places, it would be a great help in case of emergency.
We hope that local governments will promote the introduction of these systems.

• What is ShuR? Japanese remote sign language interpretation service