At Sign with Me, a cafe on the second floor of a building in central Tokyo, orders are given and taken without a word being spoken.

Customers and staff communicate in sign language, in writing or by running a finger over the menu. All of the staff, as well as the owner, are hearing impaired.

When people come to Sign with Me in Bunkyo Ward for the first time, some are surprised at being greeted in sign language and leave without placing an order. But with a growing clientele of repeat patrons, a typical day sees around 60 paying customers — including many non-Japanese.