TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A Tokyo school for the deaf stands out not just because it has sent five graduates to represent Japan at the Deaflympics in Tokyo, but also for its educational philosophy that places importance on sign language for students to develop their identity.

Teachers at Meisei Gakuen in Tokyo hope the games, hosted for the first time by Japan, will become a real-life experience and motivational boost for students while fostering mutual understanding between deaf and hearing people.

The school has been providing opportunities for athletes who competed in the past Deaflympics to share their experiences with its students.

A former student who is competing at the Tokyo Deaflympics, Chisaki Kise, 19, was inspired by Ryutaro Ibara, 31, a men's swimming ace who was invited to the school as a guest. She, too, has taught swimming at the school.

Established in 2008, the private special needs school has over 60 students and offers education at kindergarten, elementary and junior high school levels.

It aims to foster bilingual individuals with Japanese Sign Language as their primary language who also master reading and writing in Japanese.

Sign language was historically banned in Japanese schools for the deaf, with education focused on lipreading.

Meisei, however, has swum against the tide. It has distanced itself from lipreading and designated sign language as essential for language acquisition.

The status of sign language has changed significantly over the past decade. In 2013, Japan's first ordinance to promote sign language was enacted in the western Japanese prefecture of Tottori, with other municipalities following suit.

A law that took effect in June obliges national and local governments to foster environments conducive to the spread of sign language.

Kosuke Ono, the school's principal, described its students as "living by sign language."

Meisei graduates and athletes who go on to succeed in society serve as role models for the children. "They are putting what they learned at the school to good use," Ono said.

The school has designated the games period that runs through Nov. 26 as "Deaflympics Week" and takes students to go and support alumni in competitions.

With so many deaf individuals from various countries and regions with their respective sign languages gathering in Japan, the opportunity becomes an invaluable learning experience for the children.

"I hope that the games will create broader awareness of sign language and deaf culture," Ono said.