Scout Association of Japan
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Scout Association of Japan | ||||
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Japanese: ボーイスカウト日本連盟 | ||||
Headquarters | Hongō, Bunkyō, Tokyo | |||
Country | Japan | |||
Founded | 1922 | |||
Membership | 109,528[1] (2017) | |||
Affiliation | World Organization of the Scout Movement | |||
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Website www | ||||
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The Scout Association of Japan (ボーイスカウト日本連盟, Bōi Sukauto Nihon Renmei) is the major
History
Early years
Scouting was introduced to Japan in the autumn of 1909[3] by ambassador Akizuki Satsuo and Japanese teacher Hōjō Tokiyuki, who had visited England in 1908. A Japanese text based on Scouting for Boys was published as early as 1910,[3] and a few sporadic troops sprang up, without any cohesion and without a proper grasp of the principles and aims of Scouting.
In 1911, General
The Scout troop in
During his short 1912 visit to Japan Baden-Powell did, however, see something of the .
In 1920 three delegates,
In 1920
The
Count Futara Yoshinori was the first Japanese member of the
In February 1937,
Japanese military authorities did not consistently encourage the Scouting movement in occupied territories. Where local conditions were favorable, authorities would permit local Scouting or introduce Japanese-style Scouting, or Shōnendan, and sometimes even made this compulsory. On the other hand, where conditions were not favorable, and anti-Japanese sentiments were likely to be nurtured through Scouting, the authorities would prohibit it entirely.[8]
World War II and aftermath
Scouting in Japan suffered almost complete eclipse in World War II, and took time to recover. Occupation authorities had blacklisted the ex-military officers, disregarding age or sympathies. This held Count Sano and others back from their sincere desire to restore Boy Scouts of Japan to its former correct basis. Gradually, military supervision was relaxed and the original group began to take over, with beneficial results.
The occupation period was difficult on Scouting, just as it was on Japanese daily life. The participant patch (usually embroidered or woven) for the first National Scout Rally was printed on paper, because of the financial situation of that time. Period pieces of Scouting memorabilia from that time are rare and highly prized. Japan was re-admitted as a full member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1950, remarkable and unique in the history of nations in which Scouting has been interrupted. Within ten years of World War II, Scout membership had grown to 80,000. In 1957, the first Wood Badge course by that name was held in Japan. In 1959, Japan held the Second Nippon Jamboree, shortly after the conclusion of the 10th World Scout Jamboree in the Philippines.
Modern period
In 1961,
In 1971, BSJ hosted three major World Scouting events, the
After the 13th World Scout Jamboree in 1971, there was discussion about the national association's name. The word "Japan" is not Japanese, rather based on a southern Chinese dialect, which Marco Polo heard as "Zippang", eventually becoming "Japan" in English. The Japanese corrected the association's name to match their own language, as "Boy Scouts of Nippon" in 1971.
Since 1974, SAJ has every year invited some 45 Scouts from Scout associations in the Asia-Pacific Region to take part in major international events such as Jamborees, Ventures, Agoonorees and Rover Scouting events.
In 1995, Japanese Scouting became
SAJ celebrated its 75th anniversary of founding of the National Scout Association in 1997 and hosted the second Asia-Pacific Regional Top Leaders' Summit Conference in
Scouting in Japan has grown steadily and established an eminent place for itself in social education for young people. The aim of the Scout Association of Japan is to help young people become responsible humanitarian citizens, who can appreciate and practice loyalty, courage and self-respect in an international perspective. With the support of volunteer leaders, the Scout movement in Japan provides fun-filled, challenging programs, with an emphasis on developing each young person's character, health, abilities and sense of service to others.
The Scout Association of Japan is a non-political, voluntary movement, with open subscription. The geographic structure of Japanese Scouting is the council, generally conforming to prefecture boundaries. Japanese Scouting also exists abroad, in communities with large native Japanese populations, such as Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Singapore.[9]
In recent years, SAJ held several international events, which include the sixth Nippon Agoonoree in
Japanese Scouts are actively involved in international understanding and cooperation programs, such as the ORT twinning project by Rovers with the
The
Chief Scouts
- 1st Shimoda Toyomatsu, 1924–1929
- 2nd Gotō Shinpei, 1935–1936
- 3rd Isamu Takeshita, 1937–1945
- 4th Mishima Michiharu, 1951–1965[10]
- 5th Hidesaburō Kurushima, 1966–1970
- 6th Saburō Matsukata, 1971–1973[11]
- 7th Akira Watanabe, 1974–2003[11]
- 8th Shōichi Saba, 2003 – April 1, 2006[12]
- 9th Tsunao Hashimoto, April 1, 2006 – March 31, 2010
- 10th Takayasu Okushima, April 1, 2010 – present
Scouting program and ideals
The Scout Motto is Sonaeyo Tsuneni (そなえよつねに), translating as "Be Prepared" in Japanese.
The Scout emblem incorporates the sacred mirror Yata no Kagami, which represents wisdom and honesty.
The Japanese Scout uniform consists of a brown vest, brown pants with light blue pockets, and light blue cap for Beaver Scouts; a blue shirt, pants, and cap for Cub Scouts; khaki with green line edge shirt and pants, and a green beret for Boy Scouts; and a khaki shirt and pants, and green beret for Venture, Rover, and adult Scouts. Prior to the 23rd World Scout Jamboree, the SAJ introduced new uniforms and phased in new insignia for all sections. Standardized council insignia were introduced for the first time in 2015. The new council badges are 4.8 cm x 11 cm, smaller than the standard US version.
The program sections are:
- Beaver Scouts (Japanese: ビーバースカウト), age 6 to 8
- Cub Scouts (Japanese: カブスカウト), age 8 to 11
- Boy Scouts (Japanese: ボーイスカウト), age 11 to 14
- Venture Scouts (Japanese: ベンチャースカウト), age 14 to 20
- Rover Scouts (Japanese: ローバースカウト), age 18 to 24
Scout Promise and Oath
In the Scout Association of Japan, Beaver Scouts and Cub Scouts use the term "Promise" (やくそく). Scouts above are use the term "Oath" (ちかい).[13] However, in the official English website of the Scout Association of Japan, these are all called "Promise".[14]
Level | Japanese[13] | Translation[14] |
---|---|---|
Beaver Scouts | ぼく(わたくし)は |
I will be friendly to everyone
and protect the Beaver Scout Law |
Cub Scouts | ぼく(わたくし)は |
I promise to behave honestly and steadily,
and to follow the Pack Laws. |
Scouts and above | 私は、名誉にかけて、次の3条の実行をちかいます。 |
We will be sincere to God (Buddha) and country, and will obey the commandments. Always help others. Strengthen your body, keep your mind healthy, and cultivate virtue.. |
Scout Law
- A Scout is faithful. (スカウトは誠実である。)
- A Scout is friendly. (スカウトは友情にあつい。)
- A Scout is courteous. (スカウトは礼儀正しい。)
- A Scout is kind. (スカウトは親切である。)
- A Scout is cheerful. (スカウトは快活である。)
- A Scout is thrifty. (スカウトは質素である。)
- A Scout is courageous. (スカウトは勇敢である。)
- A Scout is thankful. (スカウトは感謝の心をもつ。)
Ranks
The ranks are:
- Tenderfoot (Sho-kyū 初級スカウト)
- 2nd Class (Ni-kyū 2級スカウト)
- 1st Class (Ikkyū 1級スカウト)
- Chrysanthemum (Kiku 菊スカウト)
The highest rank of the Boy Scouts is the Kiku Scout (菊スカウト). "Kiku" is the Japanese word for chrysanthemum.
The highest rank of the Venture Scouts is the Fuji Scout (富士スカウト). It is named after Mount Fuji.
Councils
The SAJ operates and maintains 48 councils, each corresponding to prefectural borders and a National Council for top-level staff and employees.
Prefecture | 2015 membership[15] | Founding year | Council badge or totem |
---|---|---|---|
Aichi | 11,143 | 1949 | Kakitsubata (Iris laevigata) with two shachihoko as supporters
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Akita | 392 | Akita Kantō bamboo pole hoisting rice paper lanterns, which hang from horizontal bars; traditional symbols of the council include namahage done in aizome (藍染め), the Japanese process of indigo dyeing | |
Aomori | 440 | Prefectural map superimposed with two Bewick's swans (Cygnus bewickii) in flight and an apple, as Aomori Prefecture is Japan's largest producer of apples
| |
Chiba | 6,113 | The seiyō aburana blossoms , as the name of Chiba Prefecture in Japanese is "thousand" and "leaves"
| |
Ehime | 1,314 | Kurushima-Kaikyō Bridge, prefectural flag, and Mount Ishizuchi
| |
Fukui | 794 | Two Narcissus (Narcissus tazetta), on a background of dark blue as the prefectural flag
| |
Fukuoka | 2,923 | ume (Asian plum) trees belonging to 167 varieties, similar to the prefectural flag
| |
Fukushima | 1,025 | Stylized hiragana of ふ (fu), the central design of the royal family to participate and it was the site of the first All Japan Youth Federation Conference (少年団日本連盟大会)
| |
Gifu | 1,838 | Traditional housing called gassho-zukuri, as well as a bird effigy of a rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta, known as the raichō (雷鳥), which means "thunder bird", the official bird of Gifu Prefecture and is a protected species nationwide[16]
| |
Gunma | 1,582 | Horse caricature 群馬ちゃん "Gumma-chan" and map, as ancient Gunma was a center of horse trading and breeding, as well as stables for the emperor | |
Hiroshima | 1,082 | 1950 | A ribbon bearing the English words "Character Health Handicraft Service" in all directions in the form of a traditional Japanese dove symbolizing peace and the torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine
|
Hokkaidō | 1,594 | 1950 | Tanchō (red-crowned crane, Grus japonensis) and map of the island |
Hyōgo | 6,623 | 1950 | Oriental white stork (Ciconia boyciana)
|
Ibaraki | 2,433 | 1951 | Sailboat, Mount Tsukuba and Lake Kasumigaura, Scout caricature in traditional campaign hat, wearing a backpack and whistling |
Ishikawa | 1,473 | Ishikawa kanji (石川) stylized to form Scout sign
| |
Iwate | 538 | , about 200 km from the Pacific Ocean in the fall | |
Kagawa | 625 | An olive branch, as Shōdoshima is famous for being the first place in Japan to successfully cultivate olives, and the Great Seto Bridge, the first bridge across the Seto Inland Sea-almost all of the bridge is part of Kagawa Prefecture, almost all the way to Okayama | |
Kagoshima | 470 | 1946 | Kagoshima kanji in green kamon symbol of the Shimazu clan of Satsuma Domain
|
Kanagawa | 8,234 | Common gull (Larus canus), golden-rayed lily (Lilium auratum) and a stylized wave representing Shōnan beach | |
Kōchi | 111 | Sakamoto Ryōma in white on red, the colors of its most famous dish, katsuo tataki, made by lightly searing and seasoning tuna | |
Kumamoto | 919 | Gentian (Gentiana scabra var. buergeri) flower
| |
Kyōto | 2,452 | 1915 | Kinkakuji
|
Mie | 740 | Iga-ryū Ninja Museum
| |
Miyagi | 998 | Caricature of Date Masamune as an onigiri–Sendai is known for its rice | |
Miyazaki | 655 | An Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto , thus creating the world
| |
Nagano | 1,188 | 1948 | Hida Mountains |
Nagasaki | 533 | Nagasaki Chinatown
| |
Nara | 2,520 | Daibutsu at Tōdai-ji, fireworks on Mount Wakakusa in an annual festival known as Yamayaki the fourth Saturday of each January, when the entire mountain between two temples, Tōdai-ji and Kōfuku-ji, is set ablaze | |
Niigata | 884 | Crested ibis (Nipponia nippon), tulip (Tulipa gesneriana) and Mount Myōkō | |
Ōita | 505 | Stylized japonica) | |
Okayama | 1,025 | Momotarō and cohorts dog, monkey, and pheasant, Okayama Castle and a red oni, based on local legend | |
Okinawa | 574 | 1956-Scouting in the Ryukyu Islands | Shureimon gate-the four Chinese characters framed on the gate read 守禮之邦 Shu, rei, no, and kuni, which mean 'Land of Propriety', however the kanji are written right-to-left 邦之禮守 in pre-World War II reading order |
Ōsaka | 8,797 | 1949 | sakura blossoms
|
Saga | 412 | 1949 | Black-billed magpie (Pica pica)
|
Saitama | 6,509 | Map superimposed with primrose (Primula sieboldii) | |
Shiga | 1,278 | Map of Lake Biwa superimposed on three blue geometrics symbolizing the waves of Lake Biwa, and which represent the three districts of Shiga Council | |
Shimane | 446 | 1950 | Izumo-taisha shimenawa, Shimane's mascot "Mikoto-kun" based on Susanoo-no-Mikoto, and Yamata no Orochi |
Shizuoka | 5,319 | 1921 | hiking staff waving traditional campaign hat
|
Tochigi | 1,244 | Map, Japanese horse chestnut (Aesculus turbinata), blue-and-white flycatcher (Cyanoptila cyanomelana) and Nikkō Tōshō-gū
| |
Tokushima | 373 | inkan of old Awa Province , reading 阿波
| |
Tōkyō | 12,577 | Tokyo Station | |
Tottori | 506 | Medama-oyaji seated atop
| |
Toyama | 1,672 | Bird in the "o" | |
Wakayama | 812 | Whale tail representing the Taiji Whale Museum in Taiji | |
Yamagata | 221 | Benibana cherries as Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of cherries in Japan, and a stylized map of the prefecture
| |
Yamaguchi | 1,020 | 1948 | citrus hybrid fruit discovered in 1740 in Yamaguchi, and seven bitter summer mandarin (Citrus natsudaidai) blossoms representing the council's 70th anniversary in 2018
|
Yamanashi | 755 | Two Scouts in traditional campaign hats canoeing toward Mount Fuji |
Decline in membership
Per SAJ records,[18] membership dropped from 332,000 in 1983 to 115,000 in 2016.
Total membership at the end of March 2012 was 143,272.[19]
By the end of March 2015, membership was 105,676[15]
SAJ statistical data as of May, 2017 is 99,779, a loss of 9,749 from 2016, the first time to drop below 100,000 since the 1960s.[2]
Awards for Japanese Scouters
- Golden Pheasant Award (きじ章, kiji-shō)
- The highest award, suspended from a white ribbon with two red stripes
- Silver Eagle Award (たか章, taka-shō)
- The second-highest award, suspended from a white ribbon with two green stripes[Note 1]
- Silver Cuckoo Award (かっこう章, kakkō-shō)
- The third-highest award, suspended from a white ribbon with two yellow stripes
Notable Scouts
- Ryutaro Hashimoto, the 82nd and 83rd Prime Minister of Japan
- Yukio Hattori, the fifth president of the Hattori Nutrition College, commentator on the Japanese cooking competition program Iron Chef
- Soichi Noguchi, Japanese astronaut
- manga artist (Zatch Bell!)
- video game designer
International Scouting
The Scout Association of Japan hosted the
An exchange program between the Scout Association of Japan and the Boy Scouts of America was started in 1998, at the suggestion of then-Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto in a 1996 meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton.[20]
See also
- Kurushima Takehiko
- Koshiba Hiroshi
- Hōjō Tokiyuki
- Isamu Takeshita
- Girl Scouts of Japan
- Baden-Powell Scouts Association-Japan
- World Buddhist Scout Brotherhood
- Boy Scouts of Manchukuo
Notes
- ^ The Japanese term taka (鷹 たか) may be variously translated "hawk", "raptor", and "white eagle".
References
- ^ "Scouting Japan" (PDF). p. 10.
- ^ a b 悲しいメールも1通届きました 平成29年度加盟員登録数(平成29年5月末現在) ●加盟員(1号会員) 団 数= 2,040団(対前年度▲62団) 加盟員数=99,779人(対前年度▲9,749人) (参考)4月末 加盟員98,676人(対前年度▲10,852人) (in Japanese),
I also received one sad e-mail Number of registered members in 2017 (as of the end of May 2017) Number of members (1) Number of member groups = 2,040 groups (down 62 groups from the previous year) Number of members = 99 , 779 (down 9,749 compared to previous year) (Reference) 98,676 members at the end of April (down 10,852 compared to previous year)
- ^ a b c Wilson, John S. (1959). Scouting Round the World (First ed.). Blandford Press.
- ^ "Letter of 1950 from R. T. Lund, Secretary BSIB". International Boy Scouts. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ^ The Jamboree Book, 1920. London, England: The Scout Association. 1920. p. 10.
- ^ "Scout Association of Japan". Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
- ^ Abe, Ken; Kiyohara, Yasuharu; Nakajima (1990). Sport and physical education under fascistization in Japan. Vol. 13. University of Tsukuba. pp. 25–46.
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ignored (help) - ^ Paul Kua, Deputy Chief Commissioner (Management) (2010). "War and Occupation, 1941-1945" (PDF). Scout Association of Hong Kong.
- ^ "Boy Scouts of Japan Federation Singapore 1st Troop". Japanese Association of Singapore.
- ^ McKinney, W. Arthur (December 1956). About stamps. p. 75.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ a b "About late Former Chief Scout Akira Watanabe". Sakashita's Scouting Collection. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28.
- ^ "Japan, Leadership Changes and long-term planning for SAJ". "inbox@apr" (e-Newsletter of World Scout Bureau, Asia Pacific Region). June 2003. Archived from the original on 2012-03-26.
- ^ a b Scout Association of Japan (2016-05-27). 公益財団法人 ボーイスカウト日本連盟諸規程 教育規程 (PDF) (in Japanese). pp. 33–34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-25. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
- ^ a b "Scout Promise & Law". Scout Association of Japan.
- ^ a b 平成26年度事業計画 [2014 business plan] (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-06-26. Retrieved 2015-10-28.
- ^ ISBN 978-4415305325.
- ^ 富山県の魅力・観光>シンボル. Toyama Prefectural website (in Japanese). Toyama Prefecture. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
- ^ "Membership numbers". 2018.
- ^ 日本連盟について (in Japanese). Scout Association of Japan. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- Japan Times. 9 March 1998. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
Further reading
- Facts on World Scouting. Ottawa, Canada. 1961.
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ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
External links
- Official website of Scout Association of Japan (in Japanese)
- Official website of Scout Association of Japan (in English)