Girl Scouts of Japan held Local Council Chairpersons' Meeting
Girl Scouts of Japan held Local Council Chairperson's Meeting from 17-18 October at National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Tokyo. 47 Chairpersons from all Councils, 16 observers who are 20's-30's and Board members participated in it. At the opening ceremony, President of Girl Scouts of Japan, Teruko WADA restated the theme of 2009 "Share and be proactive" and explained the "Plus 1 Campaign" that was reflected by PV2009. They shared the aim of 90th Anniversary events in 2010 and current state of GSJ's membership. And they discussed about "Selling point of Girl Scouting" that should appeal to society. Also participants were involved in Stand up Campaign as part of GAT. Their photo appeared on the Japanese official campaign website to show their support for the global fight against poverty.

Girl Scouts of Japan held two Trainer seminars.
Girl Scouts of Japan held two seminars for Trainer. The first one was from 24-25 October at National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Tokyo and the second was from 21-23 November at Green Hill Ohara and Aster Plaza in Hiroshima. More than 110 Trainers in total attended these seminars from all over Japan. The Theme was "Share the changes and Think positive". It aimed to share the latest information about revised Trainer system and Trainer seminars that will be run by each area level from next year. Participants understood the reason why GSJ decided to change the systems. Also they discussed the specific measures necessary to implement them. During seminar, participants deepened their knowledge of GAT and Management. And they considered the concrete measures to collaborate with the society. In Hiroshima, we invited Mr.Steven Leeper who is a curator of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Mrs.Sadae Kasaoka who is a Chairperson of Hiroshima Council. Mrs.Kasaoka is also an Atomic Bomb Survivor. They talked the preciousness of peace and peace education. After their speech, participants visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Miyajima those are the world heritages. This was the final Trainer seminar which is run by National level. Girl Scouts of Japan is divided into 7 Areas, each area will run the Trainer Seminar by themselves from 2011. We believe participants went back with positive ideas on how to proceed from here.

First commemorative speech for 90 years of Girl Scouting in Japan
The First commemorative speech for 90 years of Girl Scouting in Japan was held on 4th October at Girl Scouts House in Tokyo. This event was co-hosted with Girl Scouts of Japan, Zonta Club Tokyo�V and Japan Association for UNHCR. Also we had 2 sponsors those are Japanese Association of International Women's Rights and Soroptimist International Tokyo. The speaker was Kaoru Nemoto who is a Secretary-General of Japan Association for UNHCR. She talked the strength of refugee women who live with difficulties and the actual state of refugees with her experiences as a UNHCR staff. After the speech, we held convivial party. On this occasion we exchanged information and deepened exchange with other groups.

Save Mother's Lives Campaign
Girl Scouts of Japan will become an official supporter of "Save Mother's Lives Campaign". This campaign is organized by United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA）. Girl Scouts of Japan will promote to raise awareness of saving mother's life, MDG5.

STAND　UP against poverty
Girl Scouts of Japan joined STAND UP against poverty from 16-18 October 2009 in many parts of the nation. More than 2,000 Japanese Girl Scouts members and their company who responded to our member's call stood up to against poverty.

90th Anniversary Togakushi International Camp Girl Scouts of Japan will Celebrate its 90th Anniversary in 2010 and many exciting activities are planned throughout 2010. We will hold 90th Anniversary Togakushi International Camp from 5th Aug.to 9th Aug. 2010 at Togakushi Girl Scout Center that is a base of Education of Girl Scouting in Japan. We have already sent the invitation to Member Organizations. Please contact to your MO to get the application forms and any information that you may need. We are looking forward to seeing you at Togakushi Girl Scout Center!

Girl Scouts of Japan raised the sense of Self-affirmation
Girl Scouts of Japan is undertaking a study that Girl Scouting develop girl's fullest potential through an objective perspective. Girl Scouts of Japan conducted a survey about the sense of self-affirmation among girls, because the sense of self-affirmation is the most important for girls to become responsible citizens. As a result, we identified that the sense of self-affirmation was consisted of 8 elements, then we analyzed them. The result showed that Camping is the most effective activity to raise it. We will appeal the public about this result, besides we aim at increasing in membership.

“VIVA 90 ! 〜 Message Project from Girl Scouts Around the World”
Girl Scouts of Japan will celebrate its 90th Anniversary in 2010. To commemorate our 90th Anniversary, we have launched “VIVA 90 ! 〜 Message Project from Girl Scouts Around the World". To celebrate our 90th Anniversary, we are aiming to collect 90 messages from Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world. The messages will be displayed at VIVA90 ! our 90th Anniversary event which will be held in Tokyo on Sunday 10th October 2010.We hope to see you at VIVA90 !

The 3rd National Conference for the Promotion Building Beautiful Forests
The 3rd National Conference for “the Promotion Building Beautiful Forests” was held in Tokyo on 22nd June 2009. At the Conference, Ranger Girl Scouts presented Girl Scouts' activities related with forests on behalf of all oranizations. National Conference for the Promotion Building Beautiful Forests is a movement to preserve precious forests contributing the prevention of global warming and to inherit beautiful forests to the next generation. To implement the aim, urban people and companies will be needed to join in as well as rural people and civil cultural worker. Girl Scouts of Japan is a member of the affiliated body of the organization.

Girl Scouting appeared in reputable magazine "Gakken Child-rearing book"
Girl Scouting appeared in reputable magazine which aim at fostering elementary student's ability to think. They had a special feature entitled, "Learning by Doing!." Girl Scouting was introduced as effective nonformal education organization to foster the ability to think and the zest for living. Girl Scouts who enjoyed Day Camping as a Girl Scout's activity were published with many photos in this magazine. It was good chance for GSJ to attract the attention of readers, who are parent of elementary students.

Senior Girl Scout National Camp
Girl Scouts of Japan held Senior Girl Scout National Camp from 2nd to 5th Aug at Togakushi Girl Scout Center in Nagano Prefecture. The theme was "My Revolution -find new selves-". About 350 Senior Girl Scouts who are 12-15 years old gathered at Togakushi Girl Scout Center from over the country. During the camp, they enjoyed camping in beautiful mountain, felt the deep respect for nature and raised awareness of environmental concerns. Also through a patrol system, they gain public spirits and cooperative attitudes. Overall, this camp gave an opportunity for girls to raise the sense of self-affirmation. Girls must found new selves.

New Trainers
On 10 - 12 January 2009, Girl Scouts of Japan held a Trainer Qualification Session in Tokyo. 18 people from 10 Councils from all over Japan participated the session and shared an exciting time. All the participants had deeper understanding on Girl Scouting and our Education programme while they raised awareness on the meaning to work as a Trainer. They also reaffirmed that it is important to develop more good Leaders for girls for their active Girl Scouting. Girl Scouts of Japan will introduce a new Trainer System from April. It will provide more opportunities to be qualified as a Trainer for more people. GSJ hopes to develop Japanese Girl Scouting energetically with increased Trainers.

Young Leaders' Forum
87 Japanese Young Leaders gathered in Shizuoka on 20 - 22 March 2009 for Young Leaders' Forum. This event was held aiming to share with more people what they learnt and thought at the first Young Leaders' Gathering named "Japanese Young Leaders Say" in August 2008 at Togakushi Girl Scout Centre, to develop oneself as a Leader as well as a Girl Scout, to build a wider network within Young Leaders and to identify the role and duty of Young Leader facing 90th Anniversary of Girl Scouts of Japan. The first event in 2008 was planned by Young Leaders who attended WAGGGS' seminars. This forum was planned as the second gathering by Young Leaders of Shizuoka Council who attended the first gathering. This is a national event for Young Leaders by Young Leaders. It should motivate Japanese Girl Scouting.

New Board Member was elected
New Board Member of Girl Scouts of Japan was elected for 2009-2011. New president will be Teruko Wada who served as a vise president 2006-2008. New vise presidents will be Reiko Koga and Junko Syuzui. And Minori Yuda will be the new International Commissioner. New Board Member is 11 in total which is composed of one 20's, three 30's, three 50's and four 60's. NewPresident, Teruko Wada and new International Commissioner, Minori Yuda are both in 30's and younger than ever who serve on these positions at GSJ. New Board Member which has divertsity will start their work in May.

World Thinking Day
Advocacy Campaigne for HIV/AIDS, Mararia and other desieses was conducted by Girl Scouts of Japan on World Thinking Day. There were various programme all over Japan and there are some example.In Shizuoka Council, 7 troops in Mishima and Tagata District had a campaigne on the same day. They could have a cooperation from local railway company and they appealed the importance of fighting with HIV/AIDS and Mararia on some stations handing out their hand-made red ribbon. Their work was introduced on a newspaper.Troop 21 of Saitama Council had a workshop on HIV/AIDS. They used illustration to encourage the participants understanding well on HIV/AIDS. A leader prepared a big sheet of paper on which there was an illustration of the earth. Each Girl Scout had some heart shaped papers and on those papers, they wrote anyting they knew on HIV/AIDS and what they learnt at the workshop.
They stuck their heart shaped papers on the earth and it was covered with hearts at the end.Troop 10 and 3 of Yamaguchi Council jointly turned into a play what they learnt and found on HIV/AIDS and Mararia.
In the middle of the play, they also inserted quiz on the route of infection. For the World Thinking Day Fund,
they studied the cost to prevent Mararia beforehand and they collected their fund to reach the amount enough.

Peace Pack Project �U
It was the fourth year and also the last year for Peace Pack Project �U which was started by Girl Scouts of Japan in 2005 and had been continued since then.On 14 - 20 March, the fourth delegation of this project visited Myanmer refugee camps in Thailand. They delivered Peace Packs sent by Japanese Girl Scouts. In each Peace Pack, a message from Japan was included. They also had a time to exchange with refugees.
At refugee camps, people were looking forward to the day and delegation was welcomed by lots of children. The delegation could meet so many children at refugee camps and work to be a link of Japanese Girl Scouts and refugee children.As a result, the delegation brought back a wonderful souvenir. They set ' Dream Post' at camp which was a mailbox that refugee children can sent their letter to Japanese firiends. They received countless letters! In those letters, refugee children expressed their feeling to have friends in Japan and worte sincere messages and appreciations. The delegation would like to deliver those letters to Girl Scouts of all over Japan when they got back to Japan.

The 2nd National Conference for the Promotion Building Beautiful Forests
The 2nd National Conference for “the Promotion Building Beautiful Forests” was held in Tokyo on 27th June 2008. At the Conference, Naoko Ishii, the President of Girl Scouts of Japan presented Girl Scouts' activities related with forests and six Girl Scouts expressed the commitment for action.
National Conference for the Promotion Building Beautiful Forests is a movement to preserve precious forests contributing the prevention of global warming and to inherit beautiful forests to the next generation. To implement the aim, urban people and companies will be needed to join in as well as rural people and silvicultural worker. Girl Scouts of Japan is a member of the affiliated body of the organization.?
President Ishii presented that Japanese Girl Scouts had been ongoingly carrying out forestry activities and cooperating the fundraising for a long time. Girls declared to preserve beautiful forests and to inherit them for the future.?

Girl Scouts of Japan launched 90th Anniversary Celebration.
2010 is the year of the 90th Anniversary for Girl Scouts of Japan. 　
GSJ is planning various events to celebrate the memorable year with many people.
All of the events for the 90th Anniversary would be planned strategically to implement the vision of GSJ for 2011, “Girl Scouts of Japan is the organization to build the world that enable women to develop their fullest potential”. First of all, GSJ organized? ‘Ｔｅｌｌ Us Ｃａｒｄｓ’　project that is aiming to listen girls and young women's voices on what they would like to do for the 90th Anniversary of GSJ. The voices will be heard and moved into action in a series of events of the celebration.Theme:　Girls grow in Girl Scouting to build a better tomorrow.
Catchline:　Celebrate 90 years of Girl Scouting in Japan
〜 2010, the year for Girl Scouts 〜
GSJ would like to invite members of WAGGGS to 90th anniversary camp to be held at Togakushi Girl Scout Center in August 2010. As for details, we will inform Member organization in this winter.

Training for the Chairman and members of Training Committee of all local Councils
On 28-29 June, a training was held for the Chairman and members of Training Committee of all local Councils at National Olympics Memorial Youth Centre and Girl Scout House in Tokyo. 70 people from 47 Local Councils gathered and itwas a good opportunity to meet all Councils together.It was started with a speech of the President of GSJ. The current situation and challenge of GSJ were presented and a series of working session on sharing information and trainings for Leader including discussion was held. Participants had deeper understanding on the role of Training Committee and found a solution for issues of each Council.Also, participants raised awareness to be managers of their Council and reaffirm to develop efficient leaders to provide more energetic activity for girls.?

National Ranger Camp
Girl Scouts of Japan had a "National Girl Scout Camp; Ranger Camp" at Togakushi Girl Scout Centre in Nagano from 31st July to 4th August. The planning committee consisted of Ranger Girl Scouts planned the programme under the theme of "2008 Flouring Declaration". 140 participants enjoyed the camp including USA Girl Scouts Overseas - West Pacific and female high school students who are potential member as well as Japanese Ranger Girl Scouts. They experienced variousactivities such as a challenging programme including climbing and canoeing. They also organized outdoor cooking and Craft? classes for general family who stayed in the public camping area next of GSJ's as a part of the community festival hosted by Girl Scouts of Japan in cooperation with Togakushi Tourism Association. Through those experiences, participants discovered their new potential.

Girls discussed on the seven key messages
The Youth Exchange Programme between Korea and Japan has been organizing since 1999 which was consigned by government. 2008 is the tenth year of the programme and 93 Korean GirlScouts were invited in Japan. The theme of this year was "build a better world". The theme has an aim that girls would aware their potential to transmit their opinion to the society by their self and to take an action to build a better world. During the programme, Korean Girl Scouts joined in the Girl Scout Gathering held in some regions and totally about 300 people related with this programme.??

The Girl Scout Gathering is a programme that GSJ hold in all seven regions from August to October for Senior Girl Scouts and Ranger Girl Scouts.
The theme was chosen from WAGGGS'seven key messages on adolescent health by girls who are the member of planning committee of each region from this year. They will have discussion under the theme they chose, promote extensively our activities to build a better world and influence the society.

National Headquarters, Girl Scouts of Japan
Nishihara 1-40-3, Shibuya-ku,Tokyo, 151-0066 JAPAN
TEL:+81-3-3460-0701FAX:+81-3-3460-8383
E-Mail:gsj@girlscout.or.jp



World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
http://www.wagggsworld.org/