750 Boy Scout Teams Compete for 'Japan's Best' Title at the 19th Nippon Scout Jamboree

The Scout Association of Japan has announced the 'Jamboree Japan No. 1' program, a competitive event featuring semaphore, knot-tying, and fire-starting, to be held during the 19th Nippon Scout Jamboree in Jinsekikogen Town, Hiroshima, in August 2026. The 19th Nippon Scout Jamboree is one of the largest educational camp events in the country, bringing together approximately 8,000 Scouts and staff from across Japan and abroad for seven days of communal living. Participants ranging from 6th grade to high school seniors will engage in camping life, including tent living and outdoor cooking, as well as diverse programs such as creating disaster gear, stargazing, and tree planting. While the previous event in 2022 was decentralized due to the pandemic, this will be the first time in eight years that participants from home and abroad will gather in one place.

'Jamboree Japan No. 1' is a team-based competition held during the Jamboree, consisting of semaphore, knot-tying, and fire-starting. Teams of 5 to 8 members will compete, demonstrating their teamwork and skills developed through daily training. Winners will be crowned for both the 'Boy Scout division' (6th grade through middle school) and the 'Venturer Scout division' (high school age).

The semaphore relay challenges teams to accurately and quickly convey messages using 15 traditional hand signals to represent Japanese kana. In the knot-tying (flag pole erection) competition, teams compete to build the tallest and most stable flag pole using logs and rope. The fire-starting competition measures the speed at which teams can build a fire and burn through a specified string under controlled conditions. These challenges require careful role division and trial and error, fostering the core Scout principle of 'collaborative problem-solving.' Pre-event training is currently underway across the country as participants form teams with peers from different regions and prepare for the competition. Toshihiro Kimura, Chief Commissioner of the Japan Association, stated, 'The value lies not just in winning or losing, but in the process of challenging shared goals while dialoguing with diverse peers.'