Girl Scout Day

What Is Girl Scout Day?

Every May 22nd is "Girl Scout Day" (ガールスカウトの日, Gāru Skauto no Hi) in Japan. On May 22, 1947, the Girl Scout movement was formally re-established in Japan in the aftermath of World War II. Japan's Girl Scout organization — the Girl Scouts of Japan (ガールスカウト日本連盟) — had been active before the war but was dissolved during the conflict. Its reestablishment in 1947 marked an important step in Japan's postwar recovery and the rebuilding of civic life, particularly for young girls at a time of great social upheaval and reconstruction.

The Global Girl Scout Movement

The Girl Scout/Girl Guide movement was founded in 1910 by Robert Baden-Powell (who had founded the Boy Scout movement in 1908) and his sister Agnes Baden-Powell. By the time Japan re-established its Girl Scouts in 1947, the movement already had millions of members worldwide. Today, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is one of the world's largest voluntary organizations, with 10 million members in 150 countries.

What Girl Scouts Do in Japan

Japan's Girl Scouts provide girls aged 3 through adult with programs designed to develop leadership, community service, outdoor skills, and global citizenship. Activities include camping, nature exploration, community volunteer work, international exchange programs, and skill-building badges. The organization emphasizes values of respect, responsibility, and collaboration — qualities that resonate with Japan's cultural emphasis on community contribution.

Girls' Leadership in Japanese Society

The Girl Scout movement's emphasis on developing female leadership and agency has been particularly significant in the Japanese context, where women's participation in public and professional life — while improving — continues to lag behind many peer nations. Alumnae of the Girl Scout movement often credit it with developing the confidence and leadership skills they brought to their careers and community involvement.

Fun Facts

• Girl Scout cookies: While Japan's Girl Scouts do not sell the famous cookies that are synonymous with American Girl Scouts, they do engage in various fundraising activities to support their programs and international exchange activities.
• Juliette Gordon Low: The U.S. Girl Scouts were founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912 after she met Robert Baden-Powell. Low is one of the most influential figures in the history of organized activities for girls and young women worldwide.