Innovative Software Aims to Aid Deaf
Program translates Japanese into sign language using animation 
From: Japan Times - February 18, 2001

Takao Kurokawa, a professor at Kyoto Institute of Technology and a human
interface specialist, initially dreamed of inventing a device to interpret
intentions by analyzing facial expressions, gestures or glances. But he
instead developed a device that translates Japanese into sign language via
computer graphic animation. 

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20010218b3.htm