Did you know that there is a Starbucks where sign language is the common language? There are currently five stores around the world, and the fifth one is in Japan! It was one of the places I really wanted to visit during my trip to Japan, and it was such a wonderful place, so I would like to introduce it to you.
What is a Signing Store?
The fifth signing store in the world is the Starbucks Signing Store nonowa Kunitachi. Here, staff who can use Japanese Sign Language (JSL) are available to assist customers who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as those who are learning sign language. At the store, there is a sign that spells out “STARBUCKS” using fingerspelling in American Sign Language (ASL). Fingerspelling differs from country to country, but my younger daughter, who had previously studied ASL, was excited to recognize the letters.
My Experience at the Signing Store
In addition to being able to order in sign language (JSL) with the staff, there are several other tools to assist communication. For example, you can speak into a tablet, and the voice recognition system will convert it to text, which is then displayed for the staff. There are also menu sheets for pointing at items to customize your order and even writing tools for communication. I ordered a latte and a matcha scone by pointing at the menu sheet, but it seemed the staff was also reading my lip movements at the same time. When I mentioned that I had come from California, the staff signed, “You came all the way from America!”
The receipt even had the STARBUCKS fingerspelling sign printed on it, which really highlights the uniqueness of this signing store.
The Art Inside the Store and the Beauty of Sign Language
And the art that decorates the store is also wonderful! It’s a piece called “Talkative Hands” by artist Hidehiko Kado, featuring lovingly expressive finger movements. The gestures are so easy to understand that they make you want to start using them right away. Please zoom in and take a look, it’s really beautiful!
Hidehiko Kado, the artist, has created many works featuring sign language as a motif, including vibrant illustrations of animals signing. He is a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) and began drawing at a young age to express thoughts and feelings that couldn’t be fully conveyed through either sign language or spoken language. His works are highly regarded not only for their artistic beauty but also as a bridge connecting the deaf and hearing communities. He is also beloved for his efforts to raise awareness about sign language and Deaf culture through his work.
Sign Language in the World of Movies and TV Shows
Speaking of CODA, the 2021 film Coda featured a CODA as the main character and was an incredible movie that won the Academy Award for Best Picture. About ten years before that, I watched a drama called Switched at Birth with my daughters, which sparked my deep interest in sign language. The drama was a big hit in the U.S., and American Sign Language (ASL) was used in many of the scenes. As we watched, I started to understand some of the frequently used signs, and sign language began to feel more familiar to me. Later, my younger daughter also became interested in sign language, took a class, and learned to use it a little.
One of the characters in Switched at Birth, Emmett, is an incredible character with a charming face and gentle eyes. I was a huge fan! Also, Marlee Matlin, who played Emmett’s mother, was a beautiful and captivating actress. She also played the mother of Ruby, the main character in the film CODA, and her beauty and acting skills were as outstanding as ever.
In Switched at Birth, the show depicts both hearing and deaf individuals as they navigate various challenges in life, including the school lives and relationships of teens at both regular schools and schools for the deaf. It was incredibly fascinating.
On the other hand, the film Coda is a heartwarming story about a family with deaf members and their only hearing daughter, Ruby. It beautifully portrays her pursuit of her dreams while supporting her family. One of the best parts is the way music and sign language coexist in certain scenes. In the final scene, when Ruby’s deaf father tries to appreciate her beautiful singing in his own way, filled with love, my heart was overflowing, and I couldn’t hold back the tears.
Switching gears for a moment, I’d like to mention another film: Sound of Metal. It was released exclusively on Amazon and quickly became a hot topic, so I watched it immediately—it’s an amazing film. It was nominated for several Academy Awards that year, so many of you may have already seen it. The film painfully portrays the fear and despair of the drummer protagonist as he gradually loses his hearing and journeys toward accepting his new reality. Personally, it was a film that resonated deeply with me.
In fact, I was born with slight hearing loss in one ear (only my right ear). I say “slight” because I only have trouble hearing certain high-pitched sounds due to high-frequency hearing loss. Sound exists across a wide range of frequencies, from low to high, but with high-frequency hearing loss, it’s the higher-pitched sounds that become difficult to hear. Specifically, I struggle to hear high-pitched voices, like those of women and children, as well as high-frequency consonants like “s,” “sh,” and “th.”
Fortunately, my left ear has no issues, and I can hear everything clearly, so I don’t face major problems in my daily life. However, I have trouble hearing whispers in my right ear, so I’ve adapted by always positioning myself on the right side of people. Given my personal situation, this movie really struck a chord with me. Being able to hear normally is something we should be grateful for in itself, isn’t it?
A Special Moment at the Signing Store
While browsing the section where mugs were sold, the staff member who had taken my order earlier approached me and began signing. She recommended some items, including the Japan-only TOKYO mug, a mug with finger alphabet, and an eco-cup, which I bought as souvenirs. She is hard of hearing, but she could read my lips, and we communicated in various ways, making it a very enjoyable experience. I now use those mugs every day, fondly remembering that moment.
She also told me that she’d love to visit the world’s first signing store in Washington, D.C., someday. It is located right next to Gallaudet University (a university specializing in the deaf and people who use sign language), and the store provides an accessible environment where students and signers can work and visit comfortably. It’s a truly remarkable initiative.
Gallaudet University is also the setting for Netflix’s reality show Deaf U. The show follows students with varying degrees of hearing loss and different backgrounds as they share their concerns, go on dates in sign language, and experience the highs and lows of campus life. It’s full of youthful energy, and at times, their casual remarks are unexpectedly thought-provoking. It was a very intriguing show.
What made me especially happy was when I was about to leave, and they taught me the sign for “Starbucks”! You place your thumbs, index fingers, and middle fingers near your face, just like the siren in the Starbucks logo! I had a wonderful time taking a photo with the two bright and friendly staff members using the Starbucks sign, and it was truly a memorable moment.
Discovering the World of Sign Language
In this way, by seeing sign language in movies and dramas or experiencing it firsthand at places like the Signing Store at Nonowa Kunitachi, I feel like I’m gaining new perspectives on a world I never knew. I hope that even people who have never seen or used sign language can come to appreciate its beauty and gain a deeper understanding of the culture and the people who use it.
This store not only provides an environment where staff with hearing impairments can work comfortably but also offers a place where people who use sign language can experience the joy of signing and communicating. I would like to learn some signs, and the next time I visit, I’m excited to try ordering in sign language! If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend stopping by.
Starbucks Coffee Nonowa Kunitachi Store
2 minutes walk from Kunitachi Station/North Exit (JR East Japan)
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