Abstract
This paper brings lexical variation among sign language users in Japan into focus. A nationwide data collection project, completed in 2010 with the help of 94 Deaf sign language users from all 47 prefectures of Japan, found that most items among the 30 lexical items showing extensive variation appear in data from the 70 year-old group, and there is little variation in data from the 30 year-old group. The further analysis on the data demonstrates explicitly that the lexical sharing phenomenon is occurring on sign language users in Japan.
