Starbucks to open sign language store in Japan

Starbucks Coffee Japan Ltd. will open its first store in the country with sign language ability for deaf customers on Saturday in Kunitachi, western Tokyo.

Twenty-five employees would operate the store, 19 of them being hearing impaired.

To prevent coronavirus infections, the new store will only offer takeout for the time being.

It would be the fifth "Signing Store" store globally operated by the US coffee chain Starbucks Corp.

The four other stores are in Malaysia, the US, and China.

The first sign language store opened in Malaysia in 2016, prompting deaf and hard of hearing employees in Japan to seek to open their such store.

The next Starbucks sign language store opened in the US near Gallaudet University in Washington DC in 2018, staffed only by those fluent in
American Sign Language (ASL). Baristas wear aprons that say “Starbucks” in ASL while other baristas have pins that translates to “I Sign.”

In May 2019, Starbucks opened a Signing Store in Guangzhou, China.
Consequently, Starbucks partnered with the Guangdong Deaf People Association for professional skills training.

In November of last year, Starbucks opened its fourth signing store in Penang, Malaysia.