Interview
January 23, 2026
中村美裕さんにとって英語は、世界中の人々とつながるための「架け橋」だ。
聴覚障害のある両親を持つCODAとして日本手話のある家庭で育ち、英語を通じて海外のろう者コミュニティや文化に出会ってきた。
ろう者向け旅行会社「Japan Sign Travel」の代表として、手話と英語を軸に「誰もが楽しめる旅」を広げ、日本をより訪れやすい場所にしようとしている。
For Miyu Nakamura, English is a bridge that connects her with people from all over the world. A child of deaf adults (CODA) who grew up using Japanese Sign Language at home, Nakamura says English has presented opportunities for her to engage with Deaf communities and cultures beyond her native Japan.
“I started learning English because I wanted to communicate with people, including deaf people, from around the world. The practice of learning and using English is very close to my heart,” she says.
As the founder and representative director of Japan Sign Travel, a deaf-friendly travel company that promotes accessible tourism through sign language and inclusive communication, Nakamura aims to offer the same kind of cross-cultural experiences she remembers so fondly from her youth. She and fellow deaf and CODA guides communicate with deaf inbound tourists from around the globe in written and spoken English, as well as Japanese Sign Language, American Sign Language and International Sign.
“Many deaf travelers are seeking sign-language-accessible, culturally immersive experiences rather than typical sightseeing tours. We want to help make Japan a more approachable and comfortable destination for them,” she says.
In recent years, the company has experienced an uptick in bookings — particularly from Taiwan, South Korea, the United States, Canada, Australia, France, Germany and the Netherlands — for offerings as diverse as nature walks, sweets workshops and sumo experiences.
Demand increased further in the lead-up to the Deaflympics, an international multisport event for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes, held in Tokyo in November 2025. As many spectators sought to extend their stay before or after the Games to enjoy Japanese cultural experiences, Nakamura launched Deaflympics support tours, which combined going to the events with sightseeing nearby. Her goal was “not only to support the athletes but also to create opportunities for community-building and for connecting deaf participants and guides through sign language and culture.”
Nakamura finds English-language interactions when guiding guests or working with overseas partners highly rewarding. Her biggest challenge in these exchanges is “expressing emotions or cultural nuances naturally,” but she can overcome it because of her joy in “meeting people from diverse backgrounds and exchanging ideas through English,” she says.
It was the Tobitate (Leap for Tomorrow) Study Abroad Initiative — a program run by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to foster global talent — that first sparked her passion for international communication. Under the public-private partnership, she undertook practical study in the United States, where she focused on English education through sign language. Now she draws on what she learned during her time there to create travel experiences for Japan Sign Travel.
“English has completely changed my world. For me, learning English is not just about language; it’s about expanding the heart and connecting with the world,” she says. “If I were to give advice to someone who is trying to learn English, it would be: Don’t be afraid of making mistakes; when you use English to express your feelings or curiosity, people will respond warmly. Focus on connection, not perfection.”
(Kathryn Wortley)
Words to live by
Persistence pays off.
誰でも最初は小さな一歩から始まりますが、継続することは決して簡単ではありません。だからこそ「継続は力なり」をモットーにし、より大きな未来を思い描きながら一歩を踏み出すことを大切にしています。今の自分の立ち位置を理解し、その先の未来まで考えられる、前向きで力強い言葉です。
プロフィール
中村美裕（なかむら みゆう）
神奈川県出身。一般社団法人Japan Sign Travel代表。ろう者・手話ユーザーが安心して旅を楽しめる環境づくりに取り組む。国際交流や教育活動を通し、手話で人と人をつなぐ旅を届けている。
リンク先はthe Japan times alphaというサイトの記事になります。