Girl Scouts of Japan

Girl Scouts of Japan

Girl Scouts of Japan
Headquarters Nishihara 1-40-3, Shibuya-ku
Location Tokyo
Country Japan
Founded 1919
Membership 61,305
Affiliation World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
Website
girlscout.or.jp

The Girl Scouts of Japan (ガールスカウト日本連盟 Gārusukauto Nippon Renmei) is the girls-only Scouting organization serving Japan, founded in 1919. It became a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1952 and had 61,305 members as of 2003.

History

Girl Scouting was first introduced in Japan in 1919 by Miss Muriel Greenstreet, a British missionary teacher. The movement gradually spread, and in 1920 took the name Nihon Joshi Hododan (Girl Guides of Japan). In 1928 Japan became a founder member of WAGGGS. Girl Scouting was banned by the government during World War II, restarted in 1947, and was officially recognized as Girl Scouts of Japan in 1949.

In 2000, Her Highness Princess Sayako attended a variety of events in the Tokyo metropolitan area and in regional Japan, including the ceremony for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Girl Scouts of Tokyo, and the opening ceremony for the Togakushi Girl Scouts Center to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Girl Scouting movement in Japan.

The Girl Scout program in Japan focuses on three major points – self-development, human relations, and nature. Some of the Girl Scout activities include working with the disabled, planting trees, and protecting the environment from floods and air pollution.

Program and ideals

Girl Scouts in Japan

The Girl Scouts are divided into

The Girl Scout emblem incorporates a sakura, a cherry blossom. May 22 is Girl Scout Day.

Promise

English Japanese Romaji
I promise to:

Do my duty to God (Buddha);
Be responsible for my community,
My country and the world;
Try to be helpful to other people;
and
Live by the Girl Scout Law.[1]

 私は

　　　　　神（仏）に対するつとめを行い
　　　　　地域と国と世界への責任を果たし
　　　　　人に役立つことを心がけ
　　ガールスカウトのおきてを守ります。[2]

 watashi wa

　 　 　 　 　 kami (butsu) ni taisuru tsutome wo okonai
　 　 　 　 　 chiiki to kuni to sekai e no sekinin wo hatashi
　 　 　 　 　 hito ni yakudatsu koto wo kokorogake
　 　 gārusukauto no oki te wo mamorimasu.

Law

  1. I am cheerful and courageous at all times.
  2. I respect all living things.
  3. I am a friend to all, and a sister to every Girl Scout.
  4. I am courteous.
  5. I use time and resources wisely.
  6. I think and act on my own.
  7. I am responsible for what I say and do.
  8. I try to be sincere.[1]

See also

Further reading

References

  1. 1 2 "English About GSJ". Girl Scouts of Japan. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  2. ↑ http://gs-hokkaido.com/99_blank019.html
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