One of the things that lets us feel the changing seasons is wagashi.
Kurashiki has been a city where tea and wagashi have been part of everyday life since the Edo period, when Tamashima Port flourished. Wagashi-making is also said to have been popular among residents since that time.
I was told that the Kurashiki City Association of the Deaf was bringing together older people with hearing impairments to try making sakuramochi, so I went to cover the event.
In this article, I—a person with a hearing impairment—report in written Japanese on the gathering, which was conducted in sign language.
Written Japanese: Japanese used for reading and writing; a term used mainly in the education of children with hearing impairments
The information presented was current when this article was published in May 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
The 57th Kurashiki Gathering for Older People with Hearing Impairments
The 57th Kurashiki Gathering for Older People with Hearing Impairments was hosted by the Welfare Measures Department of the Kurashiki City Association of the Deaf and held on Sunday, April 7, 2024, at the Kurashiki Health and Welfare Plaza in Sasaoki, Kurashiki City.
This time, participants worked together to make sakuramochi, then enjoyed chatting while eating what they had made.
Let's Make Sakuramochi
That day, 23 people gathered: people with hearing impairments living in the Takahashi River Basin, mainly in Kurashiki City, registered sign language interpreters from Kurashiki City, and members of Kurashiki City's sign language circles.
As soon as participants entered the venue, they looked around, and when they spotted someone they knew, their faces lit up and they began signing.
Many usually communicate among hearing people by lip-reading, known as oral communication, or by writing notes, so the chance to talk freely in their own language, sign language, is precious.
Hands That Never Stop Making
Once everyone had gathered, they split into four groups. After hearing an explanation of how to make them, they got straight to work on the sakuramochi.
Each group had someone with experience making sakuramochi, who took the lead as everyone worked together to get the job done.
The most difficult part was adding the pink food coloring to the glutinous rice. I also make wagashi as a hobby, but food coloring produces a strong color even in small amounts, so getting an appetizing shade is no easy task.
Each person made sakuramochi with its own distinctive character.
Hands That Never Stop Eating
The freshly made sakuramochi were eaten right there.
You can buy sakuramochi at wagashi shops and supermarkets, but the freshly made ones were slightly warm and soft, and I couldn't resist reaching for a second one.
Each group made five or six sakuramochi per person, so most people ate half there and took the rest home as a treat for their families.
The cherry blossoms outside were also in full bloom that day, and some people happily said, “Maybe I'll take these sakuramochi and go cherry blossom viewing.”
Hands That Never Stop Talking
The “Kurashiki Gathering for Older People with Hearing Impairments” is attended by people with hearing impairments and hearing people who can use sign language.
The gathering was conducted mainly in sign language, with instruction sheets using text and photos displayed.
As they make sakura mochi, their hands never stop signing.
When adding the food coloring, they checked that everyone in the group was paying attention to the task, and used their fingers to indicate the amount as they checked.
At the end of the gathering, participants experienced in making sakura mochi shared ways to make it other than the method used that day, and reminisced about making sakura mochi when they were young.
Since sign language is a visual language, people come to the front to speak so everyone can see their signs clearly.
For people whose first language is sign language and whose second language is Japanese, speaking or communicating in writing can sometimes make them anxious about whether they have conveyed what they want to say or understood what the other person wants to say.
Signing while everyone watches can be a little nerve-racking, but perhaps reassured by knowing their words had gotten across, the speaker animatedly shared their story.
From the Writer
The Kurashiki Gathering for Older Adults with Hearing Disabilities is a precious opportunity for people with hearing disabilities to talk with one another in sign language. Many participants came not only from Kurashiki City but also from outside the Takahashi River Basin, including Takahashi City.
The fact that this gathering has been held 57 times throughout its history shows that it is an important place to belong for people who use sign language, including those with hearing disabilities.
It was striking to see all the participants savoring the joy of being understood as they headed home with a delicious treat in hand.
57th Kurashiki Gathering for Older Adults with Hearing Disabilities Information
| Name | 57th Kurashiki Gathering for Older Adults with Hearing Disabilities |
|---|---|
| Date | April 7, 2024 (Sunday), 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. |
| Location | 180 Sasaoki, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation fee (tax included) | 500 yen |
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