Opening and Closing Ceremonies

Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics Event Report: Opening and Closing Ceremonies

You can watch the archive videos of the opening and closing ceremonies from the following URLs:

・Opening Ceremony:　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGfdnwZOdjY&t=6219s

Opening Ceremony Leaflet

・Closing Ceremony:　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXw1w3o76cE

Closing Ceremony Leaflet

A Centennial Milestone: Fostering Deaf Athletes' Dreams and Connecting Hopes for the Future

The Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics opened on Saturday, November 15, and concluded on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.The Opening and Closing Ceremonies were held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium (Shibuya, Tokyo). Under the core concept of "Let's Enjoy Communication"—regardless of being Deaf, hard of hearing, or hearing—the ceremonies were centered on the themes of "Sharing Deaf Culture," "Showcasing Tokyo's Charm," and "Realizing an Inclusive Society.“ By involving a diverse range of participants and performers, including children and people with disabilities, the ceremonies became a powerful symbol of the Games’ mission to create an inclusive society where everyone can thrive. Furthermore, the Opening Ceremony was broadcast live at a satellite venue at J-Village (Naraha and Hirono, Fukushima Prefecture), the official venue for the football competitions.

Director

Deaf
OHASHI Hiroe
Actor, Director, Producer

Hearing
KONDO Ryohei
Saitama Arts Theater Artistic Director
Dance Company CONDORS Director

PRESENTER

■Opening and Closing Ceremonies

KAWAMATA Ikumi
International Sign
-Nippon Foundation
-Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics Ambassador
-Director, Tochigi Prefecture Association of the Deaf

SHIMIZU Aika
Japanese Sign Language
-Head of Youth Division, Japanese Federation of the Deaf

Attendance Figures

The following are the participation numbers (including delegations, general spectators, and others) for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at each venue.

■ Opening Ceremony
Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium: Approx. 6,100
Fukushima Satellite Venue: Approx. 600

■ Closing Ceremony
Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium: Approx. 6,000

Event Report: Opening Ceremony

Pre-Ceremony Programme

Before both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, performances by Heaven Artists entertained the athletes and spectators who were continuously arriving at the venue.

“HEAVEN ARTISTS” are artists who have passed the official screening by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and been licensed to perform in metropolitan parks and private facilities.

Performer

■Opening Ceremony
Shiojyari …Unicycle Circus
Cartoon Clown CHEEKY! ... Unicycle　Circus
KANA ... Hulahoop
SUKE３＆ SYU …Acrobat
Performer of Kendama Yusuke Ito...Kendama

Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium

●Opening

Celebrating the Past, Connecting Hopes for the Future, and Announcing the Games with a Message of an Inclusive Society

The program began with a young girl running onto the arena floor. To draw the attention of the athletes and spectators, who could not hear the stomping of her feet , she performed by turning the lights on and off. This was followed by the sign language message, "The Deaflympics are starting!", and an opening video. The audience celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Games and shared a sense of excitement for the 12 days of competition ahead.

The opening video (left photo) was created by deaf filmmaker IMAI Mika. The cast was selected primarily from deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, and it features deaf athletes who actually competed in the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics.

● Parade of the Participants

Teams Full of Hope and Smiles! Entering the Venue with the Smiles of Children

The parade was led by France, the host country of the first-ever Deaflympics, and concluded with the host country, Japan. Athletes marched with various gestures and actions, some holding small national flags or caps, and others filming the scene with their smartphones. During the Japanese delegation's entrance, athletes from other nations stood up and applauded. The procession was enlivened by performances of Awa Odori and the participation of placard bearers, uniting deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing individuals.

The national flag videos introducing each country (right photo) were also directed by deaf filmmaker IMAI Mika, as with the opening video. The country names expressed in International Sign are performed by deaf and hard-of-hearing children selected through a casting process from a total of 150 applicants.

Performer

Supporter｜ Daikon-ren（Awa Odori)

Placard Bearer｜Tokyo Metropolitan Chuo School for the Deaf
HarajukuGaien Junior High School
TOKYO 2025 DEAFLYMIPICS Volunteer

●Speeches / Declaring the Deaflympics open / The Deaflympics flag

The Curtain Rises on the Commemorative 100th Anniversary!

Following speeches by guests, the President of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf, and the Governor of Tokyo, the Games were declared open by Adam Kosa, President of the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD), marking the start of the momentous 100th-anniversary event. The Deaflympics flag, carried by members of students from Meisei Gakuen School for the Deaf and Shibuya Boys and girls fire club was handed to the Self-Defense Forces and raised in the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium to the ICSD anthem.

Speakers

Speeches

ISHIBASHI Daigo,
-President, Japanese Federation of the Deaf
KOIKE Yuriko,
-Governor of Tokyo
TAKAICHI Sanae
-Prime Minister
His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Akishino

Declaring the Deaflympics open

ADAM Kosa,
-President, International Committee of Sports for the Deaf

Performer

Flag Bearers
Meisei Gakuen School for the Deaf
Shibuya Boys and girls fire club
Flag Hoister
Japan Self-Defense Forces

●Relay of Light - Our Hopes and Dreams Embodied in the Light -

Connecting the Hopes of Each Individual, Dyeing the Venue with a Spectacular Light Show

Initiatives had been carried out across Japan to build momentum for the Deaflympics. The hopes for the Deaflympics and the athletes, gathered through these initiatives, were passed in a relay to light the cauldron at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. The starting runners were individuals who contributed to the promotion of deaf sports in various regions of Japan. The middle and final runners were Paralympians and Deaflympians.

Runners

Starting Runners | 9 Regional Representatives of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf

TAKAHATA Miyuji
-Former Deaflympics Representative (Alpine Skiing)
Competed eight times at the World Deaf Winter Games
ASARI Yoshihiro
-Former Deaflympics Representative (Volleyball)
Silver Medalist at the 1985 Los Angeles Summer Games
IKUSHIMA Masayuki
-Former Deaflympics Representative (Table Tennis)
Competed in six consecutive Summer Games from Malmö 1973
Total of 18 Gold and 3 Silver Medals
FUJINOBU Miki
-Former Deaf Athlete (Track and Field)
KOJIMA Katsuhito
-Former Deaf Athlete (Volleyball)
-Vice Chairman and Sports Committee Chairman of the Gifu -Prefecture Association of the Deaf
KIYOTA Hiroshi
-Served as an officer of the Osaka Association of the Deaf and Kinki Federation of the Deaf
-Advisor to the Osaka Deaf Sports Supporters Committee
TOBA Shinichi
-Former Deaflympics Representative (Volleyball)
Silver Medalist at the 1985 Los Angeles Summer Games
TAKESHIMA Harumi
-Former Deaflympics Representative (Table Tennis)
Competed three times starting from the 1981 Cologne Summer Games
Individual Gold Medalist in all three Games
SHIMAJIRI Hirotoshi
-Former Deaflympics Representative (Track and Field, Volleyball)
4th place in Triple Jump at the 1973 Malmö Summer Games (Track and Field)
Competed in Volleyball in 1977, 1981, and 1985
Silver Medalist at the 1985 Los Angeles Summer Games

Middle Runners |

SUZUKI Riwoko
-Former Deaflympics Representative (Table Tennis)
Silver Medalist at the 1965 Washington Summer Games
First Japanese athlete to win a medal
FUSHIMI Keiko
Former Deaflympics Representative (Alpine Skiing)
Silver Medalist at the 1999 Davos Winter Games
First Japanese winter athlete to win a medal
TANI Mami
Former Paralympics Representative (Track and Field, Triathlon)
Competed in four Paralympic Games
Flag bearer for the Japanese delegation at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics

Final Runners |

IBARA Ryutaro
Deaflympics Representative (Swimming)
Competed in five consecutive Games from 2009 up to the Tokyo 2025 Games
Total of 8 Gold, 11 Silver, and 4 Bronze Medals
KAMEZAWA Riho
Deaflympics Representative (Table Tennis)
Competed in five consecutive Games from 2009 up to the Tokyo 2025 Games
Total of 4 Silver and 5 Bronze Medals

●Oath (Competitor&Offical)

Pledge to Play Fairly

Representatives of the athletes and technical officials took an oath to respect fair play. The athletes' representatives were Masaki Yamada (Japan Men's Track and Field) and Moe Hoshino (Japan Women's Taekwondo). They delivered the oath in a synchronized manner using International Sign and Japanese Sign Language.

Performer

Athletes｜YAMADA Maki
・Deaflympics Representative (Track and Field)
　Competed in three consecutive Games from 2017 up to the Tokyo 2025 Games
　Total of 3 Gold and 2 Silver Medals HOSHINO Moe
・Deaflympics Representative (Taekwondo)
　Bronze Medalist in her first Deaflympics appearance at the Tokyo 2025 Games

Official｜KANEKO Mami
・Deaf Delegate for Swimming Competition Management at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics
・Board Member of the Japan Deaf Swimming Association
・Chairman of the Japan Deaf Swimming Association from 2008 to 2012

National Flag Raising / National Anthem Performance

Uniting Hopes in Solemn Expression

The hoisting of the national flag and national anthem expressed the heart and soul of the host nation. Amidst a solemn atmosphere, the flag was raised by the Japan Self-Defense Forces as the anthem played. Following the anthem, the entire venue erupted in a grand round of applause for Mr. Satoshi Ezoe and Ms. Yo Hitoto.

Performer

National Anthem
Japanese Sign Language｜EZOE Satoshi - Representative of The Japan Deaf Theatre Company
Singer｜Hitoto Yo

Flag Bearers
Meisei Gakuen School for the Deaf
Harajuku Boys And Girls for Safety

Flag Hoister
Japan Self-Defense Forces

●Artistic Programme

"One Day in 100 Years" Performed with Audition-Selected Performers

The Artistic Program concluded the Opening Ceremony. It was a piece created through approximately five months of rehearsal by deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing individuals, mainly featuring performers selected through an audition held in June.

Theme　One Day in 100 Years

The Deaflympics, with its 100-year history, has nurtured the dreams of deaf athletes and built international solidarity. This milestone celebrates the past and connects hope to the future. The title “One Day in 100 Years” condenses this moment and conveys it as a symbol.