This study explored the effectiveness of sign language gaze skills in resolving interpersonal issues between deaf individuals and those without hearing loss. The gaze of sign language is categorized into para-linguistic, non-linguistic, and linguistic information. In the current study, sign language skills were discussed from a pragmatic perspective in the therapy sessions. Generative systems theory served as a foundational theory for solving interpersonal problems with deaf individuals. Data from interview sessions of a particular case were transcribed for analysis. An interpersonal problem between a deaf client, who initially did not use sign language due to drastic changes in her interpersonal relationships, and an individual without hearing loss was identified as a process of decreasing differences in the meaning of speech acts. To address this issue, a counselor conducted a session using the client’s sign language gaze as linguistic information. Additionally, circular interviewing techniques (Tomm 1985) were employed. The session helped to restore the client’s sign language usage and resolve their interpersonal issues by introducing subtle differences in communication through the counselor’s use of sign language gaze and circular question techniques. These findings suggest that sign language gaze is a necessary skill among counselors, enabling them to help deaf individuals by introducing subtle changes in communication to resolve interpersonal problems effectively.

In Japan, Helen Keller is almost always described as kiseki no hito, which literally means “the person of miracle.” This is because the Japanese title of Kiseki no Hito translated ambiguously from the title of William Gibson's play and its film adaptation The Miracle Worker was mistakenly considered to refer to Helen, and it became established as a synonym for Helen. It has gradually become clear to some Japanese people, however, that the original English title of The Miracle Worker does not refer to Helen, but to Anne Sullivan. For this reason, in recent years, some differences of opinion have arisen about who should be described as kiseki no hito. Many Japanese still consider Helen to be true kiseki no hito, but in fact, they are not sure whether Helen is described as "kiseki no hito" in America, her native country, as well as in Japan. Are there any English phrases which correspond to the Japanese phrase kiseki no hito? In this paper, I would like to clarify the issues surrounding the phrase kiseki no hito by exploring the existence of English equivalents to kiseki no hito from a Japanese-English comparative perspective.