Blindness organizations

thumb|A blind man greets a formally dressed school inspector The was a Japanese guild for blind men, established in the 14th century in Kyoto. Founded by , the guild trained blind men as biwa hōshi or known as, "blind lute-playing narrative singers." Members were provided other professional roles, such as itinerant musicians, masseurs, and acupuncturists. The guild was organized hierarchically, enjoying official patronage from the Muromachi and Edo shogunates, and remained an important social and economic role for blind men in Japan until the abolishment during the Meiji restoration, in1871.