View source for Scout Association of Japan

{{Short description|The national Scouting organization in Japan}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Expand Japanese|ボーイスカウト日本連盟|date=December 2014}}
{{Missing information|response to the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]]|date=March 2011}}
}}

{{Infobox WorldScouting
| image = Scout Association of Japan.svg
| name = Scout Association of Japan
| name1 = {{langx|ja|ボーイスカウト日本連盟}}
| headquarters = [[Hongō, Tokyo|Hongō]], [[Bunkyō]], [[Tokyo]]
| country = Japan
| f-date = 1922
| members = 109,528<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scouting Japan |url=https://www.shibuya14.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018_dantai.pdf |page=10}}</ref> (2017)
| website = {{URL|http://www.scout.or.jp}}
| affiliation = [[World Organization of the Scout Movement]]

|pattern_head1  = baseball cap
|color_head1    = 74BBFB
|pattern_body1  = shirt short sleeves
|color_body1    = 74BBFB
|pattern_legs1  = shorts
|color_legs1    = 6F4E37
| uniform_caption1 = Beaver Scout

|gender2       = female
|pattern_head2 = baseball cap
|color_head2   = 003399
|pattern_body2 = blouse short sleeves
|color_body2   = 003399
|pattern_legs2 = shorts
|color_legs2   = 003399
|uniform_caption2= Cub Scout

|pattern_head3  = campaign hat
|color_head3    = 808000
|pattern_body3  = shirt short sleeves
|color_body3    = D2B48C
|pattern_legs3  = trousers
|color_legs3    = 808000
| uniform_caption3 = Scout, Venturer, Rover and leader
}}

The {{nihongo|'''Scout Association of Japan'''|ボーイスカウト日本連盟|Bōi Sukauto Nihon Renmei}} is the major [[Scouting]] organization of Japan. Starting with boys only, the organization was known as '''Boy Scouts of Japan''' from 1922 to 1971, and as '''Boy Scouts of Nippon''' from 1971 to 1995, when it became [[coeducational]] in all sections, leading to neutral naming. Scouting activity decreased radically during [[World War II]] but slowly recovered; membership at the end of May 2017 was 99,779.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Citation |title=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) |language=ja |quote=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)}}</ref>

==History==

===Early years===
[[File:Japanese Boy Scouts, Yokohama.jpg|thumb|Japanese Boy Scouts – Yokohama, 1912 (from ''The Japan Gazette'', 3 April 1912)]] [[File:Japan drills Boy Scouts with rifles 1916.png|thumb|A 1916 photograph of Japanese Boy Scouts drilling with rifles (from 13 January 1916 [[Leslie's Illustrated Weekly Newspaper]])]]
Scouting was introduced to Japan in the autumn of 1909<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=John S. |url=https://archive.org/details/scoutingroundwor0000unse/page/n5/mode/2up |title=Scouting Round the World |date=1959 |publisher=Blandford Press |edition=First |author-link=J. S. Wilson}}</ref> by ambassador [[Akizuki Satsuo]] and Japanese teacher [[Hōjō Tokiyuki (Scouting)|Hōjō Tokiyuki]], who had visited England in 1908. A Japanese text based on ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' was published as early as 1910,<ref name="ReferenceA" /> 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 [[Maresuke Nogi]] went to England in attendance on Prince [[Prince Higashifushimi Yorihito|Yorihito Higashifushimi]] for the [[coronation]] of [[George V of the United Kingdom|King George V]]. The general, also known as the "Defender of [[Lüshunkou|Port Arthur]]" was introduced to General [[Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell|Robert Baden-Powell]], the "Defender of [[Mafeking, South Africa|Mafeking]]".

The Scout troop in [[Yokohama]] welcomed Baden-Powell during his visit on 2 April 1912. The troop consisted primarily of British boys, but, from the beginning, also included a small number of American, Danish, and Norwegian boys and was led by a British Scouter, merchant [[Clarence Griffin (Scouting)|Clarence Griffin]]. The [[International Boy Scouts, Troop 1|1st Yokohama]], as it was called, had its first meeting on October 16, 1911, and was registered as a British Troop Abroad. The Troop charter and a Scoutmaster Warrant for Clarence Griffin were issued by Baden-Powell. With this registration only those with British nationality were able to "officially" join the troop, although this rule seems to have been loosely enforced. The Scout Association of Japan recognizes Clarence Griffin as Japan's first Scoutmaster and the "1st Yokohama", now the [[International Boy Scouts, Troop 1]], as Japan's first recognized Boy Scout troop with a marker placed on his grave in the Yokohama Foreign General Cemetery. In 1918, at the urging of missionary Bro. Joseph Janning, the Group registration was changed to "international" and boys of all nationalities were officially allowed to join the troop. In 1923 this Group became the first directly registered Group of the newly formed Boy Scout International Bureau (now [[World Scout Bureau]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Letter of 1950 from R. T. Lund, Secretary BSIB |url=http://www.troop1.net/history/images_doc/Ltr%201950%20BSIB%20Lund.jpg |access-date=21 February 2012 |publisher=International Boy Scouts}}</ref>
The Troop remains active in Yokohama as the [[International Boy Scouts, Troop 1]].

[[File:Nippon Kenjidan (Scout Association of Japan).png|thumb|left|seal of the ''Nippon Kenjidan'', precursor to the modern association]]
During his short 1912 visit to Japan Baden-Powell did, however, see something of the ''[[Kenjinsha]]'', an old time youth movement. During this period homegrown Japanese troops began to develop and existed alongside [[expatriate]] troops in [[Yokohama]], [[Kobe]] and [[Osaka]]. [[Hiroshi Koshiba]] started a Tokyo-based group in 1913. At the time of the coronation of the [[Taishō Emperor]] in 1915, Scouts were organized in Tokyo, [[Shizuoka City|Shizuoka]], [[Kyoto]] and [[Hokkaido]].

In 1920 three delegates, [[Toyomatsu Shimoda]], [[Hiroshi Koshiba]], and [[Richard Suzuki]], attended the [[1st World Scout Jamboree]] at [[Olympia, London]]. Shimoda and Koshiba were both adults and, when they met Richard Suzuki aboard ship and learned he was a Scout, they invited him to join. Richard was the son of a Japanese father and a British mother and was traveling to England for study. Richard was a member of the [[International Boy Scouts, Troop 1|Yokohama international troop]] and, being the only Scout aged delegate, Richard carried the Japanese placard in the "Procession of the Nations" during the [[opening ceremonies]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Jamboree Book, 1920 |publisher=The Scout Association |year=1920 |location=London, England |pages=10}}</ref>

[[File:Seiichiro Furuta with Cub Scouts ca. 1924.png|thumb|left|[[Seiichiro Furuta]] with Cub Scouts {{Circa|1924}}]]
In 1920 [[Crown Prince]], later Emperor, [[Hirohito]] also visited Great Britain, experienced Scouting first hand and expressed the hope that Scouting would develop fully in Japan and join the world movement. The ''Nippon Kenjidan'', forerunner of the "Boy Scouts of Japan" was founded in 1921, when Shimoda began a national group that was restructured and merged with other groups in April 1922.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> The organization was reformed as the Boy Scouts of Japan in April 1922 by Count [[Futara Yoshinori]] and Viscount [[Mishima Michiharu]]. Japan was admitted as a member of the [[World Organization of the Scout Movement]] later in 1922.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scout Association of Japan |url=http://www.scout.or.jp/e/history.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004194443/http://www.scout.or.jp/e/history.html |archive-date=2011-10-04 |access-date=2011-09-27}}</ref>

The [[1923 Great Kantō earthquake]] brought the work of the Scouts of Tokyo and Kobe to the notice of the general public. Count [[Gotō Shimpei]], a doctor and a statesman, was made the first Chief Scout of Japan and tasked with the rebuilding. As [[Japanese Government Railways|Minister of Railways]], Count Gotō travelled around the country, and was able to promote Scouting in his spare time. In 1924, Japan fielded a full contingent of 25 to the [[2nd World Scout Jamboree]] in Denmark under Rear Admiral Count [[Sano Tsuneha]], during which Count Sano attended a [[Wood Badge]] course at [[Gilwell Park]]. Count Sano returned to Japan and created Japan's own training course, called ''Jisshu-jo'', for both Cub and Scout leaders, which is still used to this day, after completion of two preliminary courses, ''Koshu-kai'' and ''Kenshu-kai''.

Count Futara Yoshinori was the first Japanese member of the [[World Scout Committee]] of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1931 until 1939.

In February 1937, [[Isamu Takeshita]] was appointed head of the Boy Scouts of Japan, the [[Sea Scouts]], and the [[YMCA]], as part of the general militarization of Japanese sports and athletics taking place at that time.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Abe |first1=Ken |url=http://ejmas.com/jalt/jaltart_abe_0600.htm |title=Sport and physical education under fascistization in Japan |last2=Kiyohara |first2=Yasuharu |last3=Nakajima |work=Bulletin of Health and Sport Sciences |publisher=University of Tsukuba |year=1990 |volume=13 |pages=25–46}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul Kua, Deputy Chief Commissioner (Management) |year=2010 |title=War and Occupation, 1941-1945 |url=http://www.scout.org.hk/article_attach/14529/p14.pdf |website=Scout Association of Hong Kong}}</ref>

===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 of Japan|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 collecting|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, [[Viscount]] [[Michiharu Mishima]] was awarded the [[Bronze Wolf]], awarded by the [[World Scout Committee]] for exceptional services to world Scouting. Other recipients from Japan include [[Hidesaburō Kurushima]], chairman of the national board and international commissioner, in 1967, [[Taizō Ishizaka]] in 1971, [[Saburō Matsukata]] in 1972, [[Shintarō Negishi]] in 1975, [[Akira Watanabe (Scouting)|Akira Watanabe]] in 1977, [[Yorihiro Matsudaira]] in 1981, [[August S. Narumi]] in 1984, [[Ichirō Terao]] in 1985, and [[Yoritake Matsudaira]] in 2012.

In 1971, BSJ hosted three major World Scouting events, the [[13th World Scout Jamboree]] and the 1st World Scout Forum in [[Shizuoka, Shizuoka|Shizuoka]], and the 23rd World Scout Conference in Tokyo.

After the 13th World Scout Jamboree in 1971, there was discussion about the national association's name. [[Names of Japan|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 Scout Region (World Organization of the Scout Movement)|Asia-Pacific Region]] to take part in major international events such as Jamborees, Ventures, Agoonorees and Rover Scouting events.

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Tenderfoot Scout (Boy Scouts of Japan).svg|thumb|right|Membership badge of the Boy Scouts of Nippon from 1971 to 1995-the colors of the Japanese emblem are unique in that they are not fixed and may be changed to represent usage]] -->
In 1995, Japanese Scouting became [[coeducational]] and, after that point, to use "Boy Scout" would strictly be incorrect. Further it was decided that the proper national name "Nippon" was not well known worldwide. Japanese Scouting once again changed its national association's name in English to the "Scout Association of Japan" (SAJ). However, there is contradiction in the original charter, that Boy Scouts of Japan (or Nippon) is still used in the writing of the Japanese language Scout Constitution. Therefore, it was decided that the official name is to be in the Japanese language, and the English expression is for the convenience and benefit of overseas Scouts to connect with Japanese Scouting.

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 [[Gotemba]] and Tokyo.

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 [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture]] boundaries. Japanese Scouting also exists abroad, in communities with large native Japanese populations, such as [[Amsterdam]] ([[Netherlands]]) and [[Singapore]].<ref>{{Cite web |website=Japanese Association of Singapore|title=Boy Scouts of Japan Federation Singapore 1st Troop|url=https://www.jas.org.sg/club/scout-association-japan-singapore-first-group}}</ref>

In recent years, SAJ held several international events, which include the sixth Nippon Agoonoree in [[Ehime]] in August 1999, the 5th Nippon Venture in [[Ōita, Ōita|Ōita]] in August 2000, the National Rover Moot 2001 in [[Aichi]] in August 2001, and the 23rd Asia-Pacific/13th Nippon Jamboree in Osaka in August 2002.

Japanese Scouts are actively involved in international understanding and cooperation programs, such as the ORT twinning project by Rovers with the [[Bangladesh Scouts]], and nationwide fundraising activities for refugees in [[UNHCR]] camps.
[[File:Scout Association of Japan 90th anniversary.png|Scout Association of Japan celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2012|thumb|right]]

The [[23rd World Scout Jamboree]] took place at [[Kirara Beach, Yamaguchi]], in 2015. The theme was "和 Wa: A Spirit of Unity".

===Chief Scouts===
* 1st [[Shimoda Toyomatsu]], 1924–1929
* 2nd [[Gotō Shinpei]], 1935–1936
* 3rd [[Isamu Takeshita]], 1937–1945
* 4th [[Mishima Michiharu]], 1951–1965<ref>{{Cite book |last=McKinney |first=W. Arthur |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qnY1AZYFqREC&dq=chief+scout+of+japan&pg=PA75 |title=About stamps |date=December 1956 |work=Boys' Life |page=75}}</ref>
* 5th [[Hidesaburō Kurushima]], 1966–1970
* 6th [[Saburō Matsukata]], 1971–1973<ref name="sakashita">{{Cite web |title=About late Former Chief Scout Akira Watanabe |url=http://www.linkclub.or.jp/~scouting/watanabe-e.html |website=Sakashita's Scouting Collection|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928011458/http://www.linkclub.or.jp/~scouting/watanabe-e.html |archive-date=2011-09-28 }}</ref>
* 7th [[Akira Watanabe (Scouting)|Akira Watanabe]], 1974–2003<ref name="sakashita" />
* 8th [[Shōichi Saba]], 2003 – April 1, 2006<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 2003 |title=Japan, Leadership Changes and long-term planning for SAJ |url=http://scout.org/en/content/download/4135/44054/file/inbox%20June%2003.htm |website="inbox@apr" (e-Newsletter of World Scout Bureau, Asia Pacific Region)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326175923/http://scout.org/en/content/download/4135/44054/file/inbox%20June%2003.htm |archive-date=2012-03-26 }}</ref>
* 9th [[Tsunao Hashimoto]], April 1, 2006 – March 31, 2010
* 10th [[Takayasu Okushima]], April 1, 2010 – May 1, 2024 (his death <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ehime-np.co.jp/article/news202405020139 | title=元日本高野連会長の奥島孝康氏（鬼北町出身）が死去 }}</ref>)

==Scouting program and ideals==
[[File:Scouts of Japan - Funabashi - 2011.jpg|thumb|Scouts asking for donations after the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami]]]]
{{See also|Ranks in the Scout Association of Japan}}
The [[Scout Motto]] is {{Nihongo|''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. <!-- Each council is limited to 4-6 colors. --> The new council badges are 4.8&nbsp;cm x 11&nbsp;cm, smaller than the [[Uniform and insignia of the Boy Scouts of America#Left sleeve|standard US version]].

The program sections are:
* [[Beavers (Scouting)|Beaver Scouts]] ({{langx|ja|ビーバースカウト}}), age 6 to 8
* [[Cub Scout]]s ({{langx|ja|カブスカウト}}), age 8 to 11
* [[Boy Scout]]s ({{langx|ja|ボーイスカウト}}), age 11 to 14
* [[Venture Scout]]s ({{langx|ja|ベンチャースカウト}}), age 14 to 20
* [[Rover Scout]]s ({{langx|ja|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" ({{lang|ja|やくそく}}). Scouts above are use the term "Oath" ({{lang|ja|ちかい}}).<ref name="SAJJ">{{Cite book |last=Scout Association of Japan |url=https://www.scout.or.jp/_userdata/org/h28_syokitei.pdf |title=公益財団法人 ボーイスカウト日本連盟諸規程 |date=2016-05-27 |pages=33–34 |language=ja |script-title=ja:教育規程 |access-date=2017-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325024101/https://www.scout.or.jp/_userdata/org/h28_syokitei.pdf |archive-date=2017-03-25 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, in the official English website of the Scout Association of Japan, these are all called "Promise".<ref name="SAJE">{{Cite web |title=Scout Promise & Law |url=https://www.scout.or.jp/e/scout_promis_law.html |website=Scout Association of Japan}}</ref>

{| class='wikitable'
|+ Promise in Japan
|-
! Level
! Japanese<ref name=SAJJ/>
! Translation<ref name=SAJE/>
|-
| Beaver Scouts
| <poem>{{lang|ja|ぼく（わたくし）は
みんなとなかよくします
ビーバー隊のきまりをまもります}}</poem>
| I will be friendly to everyone
and protect the Beaver Scout Law
|-
|Cub Scouts
| <poem>{{lang|ja|ぼく（わたくし）は
まじめにしっかりやります
カブ隊のさだめを守ります}}</poem>
| I promise to behave honestly and steadily,
and to follow the Pack Laws.
|-
| Scouts and above
| <poem>{{lang|ja|私は、名誉にかけて、次の3条の実行をちかいます。
1. 神（仏）と国とに誠を尽くしおきてを守ります。
2. いつも、他の人々をたすけます。
3. からだを強くし、心をすこやかに、徳を養います。}}</poem>
| 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===
* {{Nihongo|A Scout is faithful.|スカウトは誠実である。}}
* {{Nihongo|A Scout is friendly.|スカウトは友情にあつい。}}
* {{Nihongo|A Scout is courteous.|スカウトは礼儀正しい。}}
* {{Nihongo|A Scout is kind.|スカウトは親切である。}}
* {{Nihongo|A Scout is cheerful.|スカウトは快活である。}}
* {{Nihongo|A Scout is thrifty.|スカウトは質素である。}}
* {{Nihongo|A Scout is courageous.|スカウトは勇敢である。}}
* {{Nihongo|A Scout is thankful.|スカウトは感謝の心をもつ。}}

===Ranks===
The ranks are:
* Tenderfoot (Sho-kyū {{lang|ja|初級スカウト}})
* 2nd Class (Ni-kyū {{lang|ja|2級スカウト}})
* 1st Class (Ikkyū {{lang|ja|1級スカウト}})
* Chrysanthemum (Kiku {{lang|ja|菊スカウト}})

The highest rank of the Boy Scouts is the {{Nihongo|''Kiku Scout''|菊スカウト}}. "Kiku" is the Japanese word for chrysanthemum.

The highest rank of the Venture Scouts is the {{Nihongo|''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.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Prefecture
! 2015 membership<ref name="scout.or.jp">{{Cite web |script-title=ja: 平成２６年度事業計画 |trans-title=2014 business plan |url=http://www.scout.or.jp/_userdata/org/h26plan.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626102813/https://www.scout.or.jp/_userdata/org/h26plan.pdf |archive-date=2019-06-26 |access-date=2015-10-28}}</ref>
! Founding year
! Council badge or totem
|-
| {{flag|Aichi}}
| 11,143
| 1949
| [[Floral emblem|Prefectural flower]] [[Kakitsubata]] (''Iris&nbsp;laevigata'') with two [[shachihoko]] as supporters
|-
| {{flag|Akita}}
| 392
| 
| [[Akita Kantō]] [[bamboo]] pole hoisting [[rice paper]] [[Traditional lighting equipment of Japan|lanterns]], which hang from horizontal bars; traditional symbols of the council include [[namahage]] done in ''aizome'' (藍染め), the Japanese process of [[indigo dye]]ing
|-
| {{flag|Aomori}}
| 440
| 
| Prefectural map superimposed with two [[Bewick's swan]]s (''Cygnus bewickii'') in flight and an apple, as Aomori Prefecture is Japan's largest producer of apples
|-
| {{flag|Chiba}}
| 6,113
| 
| The [[Sun]] surmounted with many [[Oilseed rape|seiyō aburana blossom]]s, as the name of Chiba Prefecture in Japanese is "thousand" and "leaves"
|-
| {{flag|Ehime}}
| 1,314
| 
| [[Kurushima-Kaikyō Bridge]], [[List of Japanese flags#Prefectural flags|prefectural flag]], and [[Mount Ishizuchi]]
|-
| {{flag|Fukui}}
| 794
| 
| Two [[dinosaur]] silhouettes, [[Fukuiraptor]] facing left, and [[Fukuisaurus]] facing right, representing the [[Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum]], superimposed with the prefectural flower [[Narcissus (genus)|Narcissus]] (''Narcissus&nbsp;tazetta''), on a background of dark blue as the [[List of Japanese flags#Prefectural flags|prefectural flag]]
|-
| {{flag|Fukuoka}}
| 2,923
| 
| [[Plum blossom]] representing [[Dazaifu Tenman-gū]], known for its 6,000 ''[[ume]]'' (Asian plum) trees belonging to 167 varieties, similar to the [[List of Japanese flags#Prefectural flags|prefectural flag]]
|-
| {{flag|Fukushima}}
| 1,025
| 
| Stylized hiragana of ふ (''fu''), the central design of the [[List of Japanese flags#Prefectural flags|prefectural flag]] and [[Mount Bandai]] with [[Polaris]] to the right and [[Lake Inawashiro]]/[[Goshiki-numa]]-in 1924, the venue was used as a place for social education through activities conducted by the Boy Scouts of Japan, it was the first time for the [[Japanese royal family|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)
|-
| {{flag|Gifu}}
| 1,838
| 
| Traditional housing called ''[[gassho-zukuri]]'', as well as a bird effigy of a [[rock ptarmigan]] (''{{lang|la|Lagopus muta}}'', known as the ''raichō'' (雷鳥), which means "thunder bird", the official bird of [[Gifu Prefecture]] and is a protected species nationwide<ref name="ptarmigan">{{Cite book |date=2010-02-01 |publisher=Seibido Publishing |isbn=978-4415305325 |editor-last=Yuzo Nakagawa |pages=136 |language=ja |script-title=ja:ひと目でわかる野鳥 |trans-title=Wild birds at a glance}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Gunma}}
| 1,582
| 
| [[Horse]] caricature 群馬ちゃん "[[Yuru-chara#Yuru-chara Grand Prix|Gumma-chan]]" and map, as ancient Gunma was a center of [[horse trading]] and [[horse breeding|breeding]], as well as stables for the emperor
|-
| {{flag|Hiroshima}}
| 1,082
| 1950
| A ribbon bearing the English words "Character Health Handicraft Service" in all directions in the form of a traditional Japanese ''[[mizuhiki]]'' knot, to suggest the shape of a dove in flight, flanked by coordinates 34°23'48"N 132°27'35"E, which are the Prefectural Offices (Kencho) for Hiroshima; traditional symbols of the council include a [[dove]] symbolizing peace and the ''[[torii]]'' gate of [[Itsukushima Shrine]]
|-
| {{flag|Hokkaidō}}
| 1,594
| 1950
| ''Tanchō'' ([[red-crowned crane]], ''Grus&nbsp;japonensis'') and map of the island
|-
| {{flag|Hyōgo}}
| 6,623
| 1950
| [[Port of Kobe]], [[Mount Rokkō]], [[Akashi Kaikyō Bridge]], [[Himeji Castle]] and [[Oriental white stork]] (''Ciconia&nbsp;boyciana'')
|-
| {{flag|Ibaraki}}
| 2,433
| 1951
| [[Sailboat]], [[Mount Tsukuba]] and [[Lake Kasumigaura]], Scout caricature in traditional [[campaign hat]], wearing a [[backpack]] and [[whistling]]
|-
| {{flag|Ishikawa}}
| 1,473
| 
| Ishikawa kanji (石川) stylized to form [[Scout sign]]
|-
| {{flag|Iwate}}
| 538
| 
| [[Train]] from the  children's story "[[Night on the Galactic Railroad]]" written by [[Kenji Miyazawa]] who was born in Iwate, [[Mount Iwate]], kanji (岩手) stylized into [[train track]]s, [[Japanese green pheasant]], and [[salmon]]-there are good catches of salmon off the coast of Iwate and some spawn upriver in [[Morioka]], about 200&nbsp;km from the Pacific Ocean in the fall
|-
| {{flag|Kagawa}}
| 625
| 
| An [[olive branch]], as [[Shōdoshima]] is famous for being the first place in Japan to successfully cultivate [[olive]]s, 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]]
|-
| {{flag|Kagoshima}}
| 470
| 1946
| Kagoshima kanji in green [[edomoji]] on orange, representing the local [[mikan]], hence the name [[Satsuma orange]], and map of the prefecture made from the same kanji, with [[Sakurajima]] volcano and the [[Sun cross|sun wheel]] ''[[kamon (crest)|kamon]]'' symbol of the [[Shimazu clan]] of [[Satsuma Domain]]
|-
| {{flag|Kanagawa}}
| 8,234
| 
| [[Common gull]] (''Larus canus''), [[Lilium auratum|golden-rayed lily]] (''Lilium auratum'') and a stylized wave representing [[Shōnan]] [[beach]]
|-
| {{flag|Kōchi}}
| 111
| 
| [[Sakamoto Ryōma]] in white on red, the colors of its most famous dish, [[Skipjack tuna|katsuo]] [[tataki]], made by lightly [[searing]] and seasoning tuna
|-
| {{flag|Kumamoto}}
| 919
| 
| [[Mount Aso]] [[volcano]], [[Kumamoto Castle]] signature curved stone walls, known as ''[[musha-gaeshi]]'', as well as wooden overhangs, designed to prevent attackers from penetrating the castle, and [[Gentian]] (''Gentiana&nbsp;scabra'' var.&nbsp;''buergeri'') flower
|-
| {{flag|Kyōto}}
| 2,452
| 1915
| [[Daimonji]], [[maple leaves]], and [[Kinkakuji]]
|-
| {{flag|Mie}}
| 740
| 
| ''[[Japanese spiny lobster|Ise ebi]]'', [[Suzuka Mountains]]-named in the song of Mie Council, and three [[shuriken]], as Mie is the birthplace of the [[ninja]] and home to the [[Iga-ryū Ninja Museum]] 
|-
| {{flag|Miyagi}}
| 998
| 
| Caricature of [[Date Masamune]] as an [[onigiri]]&ndash;[[Sendai]] is known for its rice
|-
| {{flag|Miyazaki}}
| 655
| 
| An [[ukiyo-e]]-style [[Wind wave|ocean wave]] and ''[[kagura]]'' god dancer 神楽, as [[Amenominakanushi]] primordial god of Japan [[Japanese creation myth|creation]]-Miyazaki is famous for ocean views at [[Cape Toi]], and [[Seagaia Ocean Dome]], once the world's biggest indoor water park and artificial beach; and is connected with [[Amanoiwato Shrine]], where the [[sun goddess]] [[Amaterasu]] was found hiding in a [[cave]] by [[Tajikarao]] and enticed out by a comic and bawdy dance by [[Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto]], thus creating the world
|-
| {{flag|Nagano}}
| 1,188
| 1948
| [[Hida Mountains]]
|-
| {{flag|Nagasaki}}
| 533
| 
| [[Dragon dance]]r and ball representing the Sun or the Moon which the dragon chases at the [[Nagasaki Kunchi]] festival's ''Ja-odori''—when the dragon consumes the ball, the sky is dim, calling the rain clouds, carried out as a [[Rainmaking (ritual)|rainmaking ritual]] thousands of years ago in China—representing [[Nagasaki Chinatown]]  
|-
| {{flag|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
|-
| {{flag|Niigata}}
| 884
| 
| [[Crested ibis]] (''Nipponia&nbsp;nippon''), [[tulip]] (''Tulipa&nbsp;gesneriana'') and [[Mount Myōkō]]
|-
| {{flag|Ōita}}
| 505
| 
| Stylized [[onsen]] [[map symbolization]] '''♨''', [[Ume|Bungo-ume]] [[blossom]] (''Prunus&nbsp;mume'' var.&nbsp;''bungo'') and [[Japanese white-eye]] (''[[Zosterops]]&nbsp;japonica'')
|-
| {{flag|Okayama}}
| 1,025
| 
| [[Momotarō]] and cohorts dog, [[monkey]], and [[pheasant]], [[Okayama Castle]] and a red ''[[oni]]'', based on local legend
|-
| {{flag|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 [[Japanese writing system#Direction of writing|right-to-left 邦之禮守 in pre-World War II reading order]]
|-
| {{flag|Ōsaka}}
| 8,797
| 1949
| ''[[Hyotan]]'' [[calabash]] bottles representing [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], [[sakura blossoms]]
|-
| {{flag|Saga}}
| 412
| 1949
| Black-billed&nbsp;[[European magpie|magpie]] (''Pica pica'')
|-
| {{flag|Saitama}}
| 6,509
| 
| Map superimposed with primrose (''[[Primula]]&nbsp;sieboldii'')
|-
| {{flag|Shiga}}
| 1,278
| 
| Map of [[Lake Biwa]] superimposed on three blue geometrics symbolizing the [[Wind wave|waves]] of Lake Biwa, and which represent the three districts of Shiga Council
|-
| {{flag|Shimane}}
| 446
| 1950
| [[Izumo-taisha]] ''[[shimenawa]]'', Shimane's mascot "Mikoto-kun" based on [[Susanoo-no-Mikoto]], and [[Yamata no Orochi]]
|-
| {{flag|Shizuoka}}
| 5,319
| 1921
| [[Mount Fuji]] and Scout silhouette with [[hiking staff]] waving traditional [[campaign hat]]
|-
| {{flag|Tochigi}}
| 1,244
| 
| Map, Japanese [[horse chestnut]] (''Aesculus turbinata''), [[blue-and-white flycatcher]] (''Cyanoptila cyanomelana'') and [[Nikkō Tōshō-gū]]
|-
| {{flag|Tokushima}}
| 373
| 
| [[Awa Odori]] dancer and rectangle [[inkan]] of old [[Awa Province (Tokushima)|Awa Province]], reading 阿波
|-
| {{flag|Tōkyō}}
| 12,577
| 
| [[Tokyo Station]]
|-
| {{flag|Tottori}}
| 506
| 
| [[Mandarin duck]] (''Aix&nbsp;galericulata'') on a backdrop of the [[Tottori Sand Dunes]]; traditional symbols of the council include [[GeGeGe no Kitarō|Kitarō]] caricature in Scout [[beret]], [[Medama-oyaji]] seated atop
|-
| {{flag|Toyama}}
| 1,672
| 
| Bird [[effigy]] of a [[rock ptarmigan]] (''{{lang|la|Lagopus muta}}'', known as the ''raichō'' (雷鳥), which means "thunder bird", the official bird of [[Toyama Prefecture]] and is a protected species nationwide,<ref name="ptarmigan" /> as well as mountains for the stylized logo based on the [[List of Japanese flags#Prefectural flags|prefectural flag]] which form a [[rebus]] of Toyama representing [[Mount Tateyama]], enclosing a [[tulip]] (''Tulipa'')<ref name="symbol">{{Cite web |script-title=ja:富山県の魅力・観光>シンボル |url=http://www.pref.toyama.jp/gaiyou/symbol.html |access-date=9 September 2011 |website=Toyama Prefectural website |publisher=Toyama Prefecture |language=ja}}</ref> in the "o"
|-
| {{flag|Wakayama}}
| 812
| 
| [[Whale tail]] representing the [[List of aquaria in Japan|Taiji Whale Museum]] in [[Taiji, Wakayama|Taiji]]
|-
| {{flag|Yamagata}}
| 221
| 
| ''Benibana'' [[Safflower]] (''Carthamus&nbsp;tinctorius''), [[cherries]] as [[Yamagata Prefecture]] is the largest producer of cherries in Japan, and a stylized map of the prefecture
|-
| {{flag|Yamaguchi}}
| 1,020
| 1948
| [[Choruru]] caricature in Scout [[beret]], and [[amanatsu]], a yellowish orange [[citrus hybrid]] fruit discovered in 1740 in Yamaguchi, and seven bitter summer mandarin (''Citrus natsudaidai'') blossoms representing the council's 70th anniversary in 2018
|-
| {{flag|Yamanashi}}
| 755
| 
| Two Scouts in traditional [[campaign hat]]s [[canoeing]] toward [[Mount Fuji]]
|}

== Decline in membership ==
Per SAJ records,<ref>{{Cite web |year=2018 |title=Membership numbers |url=http://www.scout.or.jp}}</ref> membership dropped from 332,000 in 1983 to 115,000 in 2016.

Total membership at the end of March 2012 was 143,272.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ja:日本連盟について |url=http://www.scout.or.jp/org/about_us.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220202057/http://www.scout.or.jp/org/about_us.html |archive-date=20 December 2016 |access-date=13 June 2012 |publisher=Scout Association of Japan |language=ja}}</ref>

By the end of March 2015, membership was 105,676<ref name="scout.or.jp" />

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.<ref name="ReferenceB" />

==Awards for Japanese Scouters==
; {{nihongo|[[Golden Pheasant Award]]|きじ章|kiji-shō}}: The highest award, suspended from a white ribbon with two red stripes
; {{nihongo|Silver Eagle Award|たか章|taka-shō}}: The second-highest award, suspended from a white ribbon with two green stripes{{#tag:ref|The Japanese term ''taka'' (鷹 たか) may be variously translated "hawk", "raptor", and "white eagle".|group=Note}}
; {{nihongo|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]]
* [[Makoto Raiku]], [[Mangaka|manga artist]] (''[[Zatch Bell!]]'')
* [[Shigeru Miyamoto]], Japanese [[video game designer]]

==International Scouting==
The Scout Association of Japan hosted the [[13th World Scout Jamboree]] on the [[Asagiri Plateau]], [[Shizuoka Prefecture]], in 1971, and the nearly simultaneous 23rd [[World Scout Conference]]. Since then, it has hosted numerous other international activities, including the Asia Pacific Top Leaders Summit in 1997, the Asia-Pacific Multi-Purpose Workshop in 2000, and the 23rd Asia-Pacific/13th [[Nippon Jamboree]] in 2002.
Japan also hosted the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in 2015 in Yamaguchi.

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]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 March 1998 |title=Boy Scout leader urges knife safety |work=[[The Japan Times]] |url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn19980309b2.html |access-date=24 April 2010}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Kurushima Takehiko]]
* [[Koshiba Hiroshi]]
* [[Hōjō Tokiyuki (Scouting)|Hōjō Tokiyuki]]
* [[Isamu Takeshita]]
* [[Girl Scouts of Japan]]
* [[Baden-Powell Scouts' Association|Baden-Powell Scouts Association – Japan]]
* [[World Buddhist Scout Brotherhood]]
* [[Boy Scouts of Manchukuo]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |title=Facts on World Scouting |work=Boy Scouts International Bureau |year=1961 |location=Ottawa, Canada}}

==External links==
* [http://www.scout.or.jp Official website of Scout Association of Japan] {{in lang|ja}}
* [http://www.scout.or.jp/e/index.html Official website of Scout Association of Japan] {{in lang|en}}

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[[Category:Scouting in Japan]]
[[Category:World Organization of the Scout Movement member organizations]]
[[Category:Youth organizations established in 1913]]
[[Category:1913 establishments in Japan]]