Country profile: Japan

Region:

Asia Pacific

Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting introduced:

1919 (Founder Member of WAGGGS)

49,447 Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

Age groups

Ranger Girl Scout 15-17

Senior Girl Scout 12-15

Junior Girl Scout 9-12

Brownie Girl Scout 6-9

Tenderfoot Girl Scout 5-6

Address

Girl Scouts of Japan
1-40-3 Nishihara
Shibuya-Ku
Tokyo 151-0066
Japan

Girl Scout Promise

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

Tenderfoot Girl Scout Promise

I am a Girl Scout
I look and listen carefully, and be friendly to everyone

Girl Scout Law

I am cheerful and courageous at all times

I respect all living things

I am a friend to all, and a sister to every Girl Scout

I am courteous

I use time and resources wisely

I think and act on my own

I am responsible for what I say and do

I try to be sincere

Brownie Girl Scout Law

I am cheerful and courageous at all times

I respect all living things

I am a friend to all, and a sister to every Girl Scout

MDG 7 in Japan

The most serious environmental threat toJapanis natural disasters. It lies on active fault lines, so sometimes has earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis and landslides which can be extremely destructive. Japan takes a third of its electricity supply from nuclear energy, and these disasters can cause a serious threat if they damage a nuclear power plant, as happened in March 2011.

Another problem is over construction. This is partly to protect against natural disasters, but also because of overcrowding in a small country with a large population. There is little untouched natural habitat. Japan also has problems with air pollution. This is due to the use of fossil fuels and burning waste. However, this problem has been improving.

Fish makes up a big part of the Japanese diet. In 2000 Japan had the third highest catches of fish in the world. This huge demand might be more than the oceans can meet. Worldwide, fish populations are thought to be under too much pressure, and Japan’s catch each year has been getting smaller and smaller.

Environmental Indicators

• Nearly 11 per cent of land and marine areas are now protected as nature reserves

• 20 per cent of water sources are used to provide water for people, industry and agriculture
• 5 per cent of people use solid fuels to heat their homes