The Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics began on Saturday, spotlighting a 'starting light' device designed to aid deaf athletes in track events. Masahisa Takemi, the device's developer, expressed hopes that the event will increase awareness of challenges faced by those with hearing difficulties.
Masahisa Takemi, a 50-year-old teacher at the Central School for the Deaf run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, developed the 'starting light' device after witnessing a deaf student's struggles in track events reliant on a starting pistol's sound. This innovation is used alongside the pistol at the quadrennial Deaflympics, a sports festival for people with hearing difficulties.
'I hope people become more aware of the difficulties that those who are hard of hearing go through,' Takemi said. The device aims to level the playing field, potentially boosting visibility for the deaf community during the event.
The Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics opened on Saturday, November 19, 2025, focusing on sports accessibility for the hearing-impaired. Keywords associated with the story include Deaflympics, disability, hearing, Tokyo, and sports. Takemi's work highlights efforts to enhance inclusivity in competitive athletics.