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, a preparatory committee was formed to revive the Girl Scout movement in Japan, which had been suspended during World War II, and the Girl Scouts of Japan (ガールスカウト日本連盟) designated the day to commemorate it. The movement had begun in Japan in 1920 as the Nippon Joshi Hodōdan, and the Girl Scouts of Japan was formally launched in 1949. The 1947 revival 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. Japan's Nippon Joshi Hodōdan was a founding member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts when it was established in 1928. Today, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is one of the world's largest voluntary organizations, with about 11.2 million members in 154 countries and regions, according to the Girl Scouts of Japan.

What Girl Scouts Do in Japan

Japan's Girl Scouts provide girls from the year before elementary school through young adulthood 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.