Abstract
This literature review examines the disaster resilience of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH+) communities in Japan by applying the Deaf Community Cultural Wealth framework, an adaptation of Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth model. The framework highlights six forms of cultural capital—aspirational, linguistic, familial, social, resistant, and navigational—that DHH+ communities leverage to overcome communication and systemic barriers during crises. Using major disasters, including the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (1995) and the Noto Peninsula Earthquake (2024), as case studies, this review explores how these forms of capital have been activated to create a more inclusive and resilient disaster management system. Findings reveal that DHH+ communities actively utilize their cultural assets to access critical information, organize mutual aid, advocate for inclusive policies, and challenge structural inequities in disaster response. However, persistent barriers remain, such as limited interpreter availability and inconsistent access to visual communication aids. Recommendations include expanding inclusive communication protocols, formalizing “Deaf Villages” in disaster response, increasing interpreter training, and institutionalizing community-specific data sharing to prioritize support. This study contributes to more equitable disaster preparedness and response models, emphasizing the importance of integrating marginalized communities’ cultural strengths to enhance resilience and promote social justice.
