YAKABE Ayaka & Mai: High-Profile Sisters Taking on the World of Deaf Badminton

INDEX

Going for the gold with the older sister’s defense and the younger sister’s offence
“We’re glad that our parents are happy”
A long-sought championship at the Asian Games
Aiming for gold at the TOKYO 2025 DEAFLYMPICS
In Tokyo, there are even cafes that primarily use sign language

Going for the gold with the older sister’s defense and the younger sister’s offence

Sisters Ayaka and Mai Yakabe are a doubles team in the world of deaf badminton. They achieved impressive results at the 10th Asia Pacific Deaf Games held in Malaysia in December 2024, winning both the women’s doubles and mixed team championships. We spoke with the Yakabe sisters, whose performance at the TOKYO 2025 DEAFLYMPICS is garnering high expectations, about their enthusiasm for the Games and what to look forward to.

“We’re glad that our parents are happy”

Ayaka, you were the first to start playing badminton, correct?
Ayaka: “I went to an elementary school for deaf people, and when I was in the 1st grade, a teacher started a Deaf Badminton Club and asked me to join. At first I did it totally just for fun.”
Mai: “My sister seemed to always have fun playing badminton, and the first time I went to a practice with her was when I was five years old. We’ve been playing badminton together ever since.”

You started playing as a pair in 2021 and have since been competing on the world stage.
Ayaka: “Our play style is that I stay at the front and focus on defense, while Mai focuses on attacking; smashes are her specialty. Even sisters have their own things that they’re good at, so we’ve achieved a balance that’s just right.”

Being sisters seems to have many advantages.
Ayaka: “Since there are two of us, we can practice any time, and it’s nice that we’re able to compete together in doubles. And more than anything else, our parents are happy to see us do well. On the other hand, one downside is that when we lose a match or something, we both take that negative atmosphere home with us.”

Many people see the two of you as being very close as sisters, but you sometimes have problems, right?
Mai: “Ayaka has a very easygoing personality. Conversely, I’m a really competitive person, and making just one mistake can get me angry. That said, we aren’t the type to drag each other down, so if something happens, one of us will call out to the other and things get back to normal soon enough.”
Ayaka: “I moved away from home two years ago and started living in Tokyo, and since then I’ve really felt the importance of my sister’s presence. Mai is doing her best, so that makes me feel like I need to work just as hard so that we can do our best out on the world stage, which helps me keep a positive outlook. I also go back home to Fukuoka to spend time with my family from time to time, and that is the best way to relax.”

A long-sought championship at the Asian Games

At the 10th Asia Pacific Deaf Games held in Malaysia in December 2024, you won the women’s doubles championship, earning yourselves the gold medal.
Mai: “At the World Deaf Badminton Championships in July 2023, we were expected to medal, but we only made it to the quarterfinals. I was so frustrated by it that I spent an entire year practicing really hard so I wouldn’t have to go through that again. That’s why I was so happy about winning this time, because it let me realize that not only have I improved in terms of skill and stamina, but also my mental state.”

I’ve heard that some of the matches were quite tough.
Ayaka: “In one match, we were down by four points, 7 to 11, but we kept our cool and said to each other, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll be okay! We can win this set, too!’ We kept talking closely to each other like this throughout the match, and we managed to turn things around and win it. Being able to do that, I think, was the result of practicing as much as possible and building our confidence, having a never-say-die attitude, and being able to communicate with each other positively.”

Aiming for gold at the TOKYO 2025 DEAFLYMPICS

The Tokyo Deaflympics are finally taking place this year. There are high expectations for your performance.
Ayaka: “At the last Deaflympics in Brazil in 2022, we were able to beat another team from Japan that we had never been able to beat before, so we were told that we were sure to win a medal. However, right before the semifinals, the entire Japanese delegation had to go back to Japan because of COVID-19, so we had to forfeit the competition. I still remember how disappointed I felt then.”
Mai: “That’s why this time, at the TOKYO 2025 DEAFLYMPICS, we definitely want to win and stand on the top of the podium to get our gold medals.”
Ayaka: “The selection round is in March, and that’s when it’ll be decided if we’re able to compete or not, so the first thing that’s important is that we work on the issues we have and hone our skills more so that we can compete with confidence. I also want to do my best so that people will be glad that they supported me.”

The Deaflympics being held in Japan is likely to draw a lot of attention.
Mai: “The Deaflympics still aren’t very widely known, so I think these upcoming Games will be a great opportunity to make people more aware of the Deaflympics, and also the Olympics and Paralympics as well. Above all, we hope that the Deaflympics can serve as an opportunity for people to deepen their understanding of people who are deaf or hard of hearing.”

Many people may be hearing about the Deaflympics for the first time. What should people look for in order to make it a more enjoyable experience for them?
Mai: “The matches themselves are very nearly the same as the matches played by people without hearing impairments. One thing you should look for during the matches is the use of sign language. Especially in team sports like soccer and volleyball, it’s really interesting to watch the matches progress with all the sign language being used.”
Ayaka: “Also, each country has their own sign language and their own way of expressing emotions, so we need to pay attention to that as well. On that note, Indian players put so much emotion into their playing that you can’t help but watch and enjoy them.”

In Tokyo, there are even cafes that primarily use sign language

The TOKYO 2025 DEAFLYMPICS is going to draw a lot of people to Japan, including both athletes and supporters. What places in Tokyo do the two of you recommend?
Ayaka: “Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa is right by Shinagawa Station, and it has a stylish and fun dolphin performance in a space that uses digital art to enhance it, which I thought seemed very Tokyo-esque.”
Mai: “I haven’t been there yet, but I would like to recommend the Starbucks Coffee nonowa Kunitachi store. They’ve incorporated sign language as a primary means of communication there.”
Ayaka: “I’ve been there twice before, and I highly recommend it. In addition to sign language, you can also order by speaking, pointing, or writing, so it’s a place where people both with and without hearing impairments can gain new insights.”
Mai: “When it comes to places outside of Tokyo, I’d like people to visit Dazaifu City in Fukuoka Prefecture, which is where I live. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is famous for housing the deity of learning, and there’s a lot of things to see on the shrine grounds, like its arched bridges and the Sakuramon Gate. You can also walk around while eating, which makes it a great spot for sightseeing. Be sure to try some of the local delicacies, too, like Tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen noodles and Motsu-nabe (offal hotpot).”

＜Profile＞
YAKABE Ayaka
Born in 2002 in Fukuoka Prefecture. Diagnosed with hearing impairment at age 3. Started competing when she was invited to join the Deaf Badminton Club when she was in the 1st grade of elementary school. Joined the Japanese national team during her second year of high school. At the Brazil Deaflympics in 2022, she was runner-up in the mixed team competition and advanced to the semifinals in the women’s doubles. Won the women’s doubles and mixed team championships at the 10th Asia Pacific Deaf Games. Member of ZENRIN DataCom CO., LTD.

＜Profile＞
YAKABE Mai
Born in 2004 in Fukuoka Prefecture. Diagnosed with hearing impairment at age 2. Took after her older sister by starting to play badminton at age 5. Joined the Japanese national team during her second year of junior high school. At the Brazil Deaflympics in 2022, she was runner-up in the mixed team competition and advanced to the semifinals in the women’s doubles and singles. Won the women’s doubles and mixed team championships at the 10th Asia Pacific Deaf Games. Currently a student at Chikushi Jogakuen University.