Starbucks Coffee Japan on Saturday opened a store in Kunitachi, Tokyo, where hearing-impaired staff members take and serve orders using sign language. Although Starbucks operates such signing stores in other countries, this is the brand's first in Japan.
The company aims to encourage diverse ways of working styles and create new employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
The Starbucks Coffee Nonowa Kunitachi store is located near a school for the deaf in Kunitachi. Of the 25 employees, 19 are hearing impaired.
All staff members at the shop can take orders using sign language, pointing, writing, and voice input to a tablet. Other devices to facilitate their work include vibrating timers to indicate when coffee orders are ready.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
