Girl Scouts of Japan

The nihongo|Girl Scouts of Japan|ガールスカウト日本連盟|Ga-rusukauto Nippon Renmei is the girls-only Scouting organization serving Japan. Founded in 1919, the Girl Scouts of Japan became member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1952 and counts 61,305 girls as members, as of 2003.

Girl Scouting was first introduced in Japan by Miss Muriel Greenstreet, a British missionary teacher in 1919. 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

The Girl Scouts are divided into
*Tenderfoot (from 1 year before 1st grade), around 5 years
*Brownie (grades 1 through 3), around 6 to 8 years
*Junior (grades 4 through 6), around 9 to 11 years
*Senior (grades 7 through 9), around 12 to 14 years
*Rangers (grades 10 through 12), around 15 to 17 years
*and adult leaders (age 18 and over)

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

Yakusoku

Watakushi wa meiyo ni kakete:Kami to kuni to ni taisuru tsutome o okonai;Itsumo tano hitobito o ta-suke;Gaaru Sukauto no okite o mamoru yoniitashimasu.

Promise

On my honor, I will try: To do my duty to God and my country; to help other people at all times; to obey the Girl Scout Law.

Okite

* Gaaru Sukauto no meiyo wa shinraisareru koto de arimasu.* Gaaru Sukauto wa chu-jitsu de arimasu.* Gaaru Sukauto no tsu-tome wa, hito otasuke hito ni yakudatsu koto dearimasu.* Gaaru Sukauto wa sub-eteno hitobito notomo-dachi de ari, tanoGaaru Sukauto towa ta-gaini shimai deari-masu.* Gaaru Sukauto wa reigi o tadashikushimasu.* Gaaru Sukauto wa iki-mono o kawaigarimasu.* Gaaru Sukauto wa kir-itsu ni shitagaimasu.* Gaaru Sukauto wa kai-katsu de arimasu.* Gaaru Sukauto wa ken-yaku shimasu.* Gaaru Sukauto wa ornoi nimo, kotobanimo, okonai nimo junketsu de arimasu.

Law

* A Girl Scout's honor is to be trusted.* A Girl Scout is loyal.* A Girl Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others.* A Girl Scout is a friend to all and a sister to every other Girl Scout.* A Girl Scout is courteous.* A Girl Scout is a friend to animals.* A Girl Scout obeys orders.* A Girl Scout is cheerful.* A Girl Scout is thrifty.* A Girl Scout is clean in thought, word, and deed.

ee also

* Scout Association of Japan

References

* World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, World Bureau (2002), "Trefoil Round the World". Eleventh Edition 1997. ISBN 0-900827-75-0
* http://www.girlscoutsmilehi.org/content/documents/GSPromiseLawLanguages.pdf