metote-lab is a laboratory project revolving around deaf people, the hard-of-hearing and CODA (children of deaf adults) who converse via visual language (Japanese sign language). It is aimed at creating a forum (a “home”) for emergence from the starting point of the physical sensibilities and “language” of the individual. Organizers carry out a variety of projects on the theme of cultivating the natural culture that visual language entails.

One of metote-lab’s initiatives, the Archive Project, is themed around the preservation of the natural way of life and culture engendered by sign language. The project has involved a series of research and discussion on new archiving methods for sign language and the way of life and culture of deaf people, and the use of these archiving methods. As part of this initiative, metote-lab runs “home video viewing” events open to anyone.

Opportunities are on the rise to see sign language in lectures, courses, theater and TV dramas. However, natural signed conversations with family members and friends who deaf people interact with on a daily basis disappear and are forgotten once over.
We believe that a natural conversation with someone is where many pointers for a “natural way of life and culture engendered by sign language” are hidden. We hope to find these pointers together through watching and discussing home videos. Please join us.

In addition, for this viewing event we have set up a scheme for soliciting videos to act as a forum for participants to discuss the appeal and possibilities of home videos. At the viewing event, we will screen both videos by metote-lab and those submitted by members of the public. We look forward to your application.