Teletext broadcasting in the Japanese Language was begun in 1983 by the NHK (Japanese Broadcasting Corporation). It adopts the Pattern Transmission Method, since over 3,000 Chinese characters, in addition to the 46 Katakana and 46 Hiragana syllabaries, are necessary to write sentences in Japanese. Currently, the teletext programs consist of news, weather, information, and subtitles for drama serials. The deaf and the hard-of-hearing, whose estimated number in Japan is three million, are a target audience for teletext services. Three problems in delivering services for the deaf include: physical conditions for the display of characters on the television screen, the wording of subtitles to make them appropriate to the linguistic ability of hearing-impaired persons, and the effective expression of nonverbal information imparted by sound effects and music via subtitles. Plans for the future include transmission of more information, production of hard copy for viewers, and an increase in the variety of captioned programs. (Author/JB)