Kobe City: “Tentomushi” Volunteer Braille Translation Group at the Kobe City Braille Library

Press Release (May 27, 2024)
Kobe City Council of Social Welfare Higa & Nakamura
The “Tentomushi” group is a volunteer group of people who have taken a Braille translation volunteer training course at the Kobe Braille Library (3-4-1 Tachibana-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe City General Welfare Center), It was founded in 1974, succeeding its predecessor, the “Tomoshibi Group. Since then, the group has continued its volunteer Braille translation activities for the visually impaired for many years, and will celebrate its 50th anniversary on June 29, 2024.
Braille transcribers are volunteers who translate information from printed books and materials into Braille.
The “Lighting Bug Group” provides high quality Braille translation through accurate reading, thorough proofreading checks, and study sessions on technical terms in fields where many technical terms are used.
The Braille books they produce are used not only by users in Kobe, but also by visually impaired people throughout Japan through other Braille libraries and the “Sapie Library” network system.
In addition to their daily Braille translation activities, they are actively involved in exchange meetings with Braille library users and in activities to promote and educate the public about Braille in the community.

Lit Mushi Group”

① Founded June 29, 1974
② Chairperson: Yumi Inui

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Number of members: 78 (as of April 1, 2024)

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Main activities
Braille translation activities
– Braille book production
– Braille production of periodicals (magazines)
– Braille translation of public information materials (requests from administrative agencies, etc.)
– Braille calendar production
Interaction activities with library users
– Exchange meetings
・Dissemination of Braille in the community (Braille instruction)
・Welfare experience class at children’s hall
・Braille class at community center

50th anniversary commemorative events

① 50th anniversary celebration
June 10, 2024 (Monday) 10:30-13:30 Memorial gathering (General Welfare Center 4th floor)
14:00-15:30 Exchange meeting with users
2) Publication of the 50th anniversary commemorative magazine
Currently in production, scheduled for completion in December