JohnBraden: The general website is quite useful - thank you for pointing this out to me!
Nippom: Thanks for your informative post. The deaf movement in Japan article is interesting (although I don't like the blatant bias in the article against hearing people). It's good to know when the key events in the deaf movement took place!
Regarding your comment about deaf Japanese only recently becoming able to drive, I can't imagine the government forbidding deaf people to drive! As far as I know, deaf people in the United States has always been able to drive cars. When I got my first driver's license about ten years ago, my license said that I had "restrictions on file" - that is, I had to have all three mirrors present in my car (a car is only required by law to have two). This restriction was lifted about five years ago though.
The idea behind "Orange Days" is a different perspective on hearing loss - a person who is dependent on music as a career slowly becomes unable to hear it. Since I was born deaf, I've never experienced the struggle associated with losing my hearing, as it's always been gone
I am learning Japanese Sign Language right now with a deaf native Japanese tutor, but thank you for the Wikipedia link anyway. You gave me some very helpful websites, and I appreciate it