Rangaku is the term used for “Dutch Learning” and started the Japaneses curiosity about the west from finding an anatomy book. From there it moved to all sorts of subjects some examples are: Political Science, Astronomy, Medicine, Physical Science and Cooking, and many more.

The Dutch were the first westerners to find Japan and they had limited access from 1640 on. Seeing as how the Japanese had never met anyone like the Dutch they were very curios, and so were the Dutch of the Japanese. In general most of what the Japanese learned about the west was from the Dutch traders and priests.

What really kicked off Rangaku, or “Dutch learning”, was when some Japanese doctors obtained an anatomy book that had highly detailed drawings of the internals of human bodies. This was very interesting to the Japanese as apparently they had never done an autopsy to learn what the insides of a person looked like. So they decided to do an autopsy on a dead criminal, and learned these books were exact. This spawned helped spawn a great curiosity of the west.

From there it lead into almost every subject imaginable. It was also quite easy for the Japanese people to learn since 70 to 80% of Japanese were literate so as soon as books were translated from dutch they were sent off into Japan for people to learn from, that is a little over reaching but close’ish.

Much like everything else things evolve and so has/did Rangaku. Naturally with the curiosity of the Japanese about the west the same is true of the west about the Japanese. Eventually it lead down the road to Commodore Perry’s visit and forcing open Japan to trade.

One of the best positives of Japan starting to learn about the west was their intensity of it. The leaders setup groups of people to study and learn all about the west. By the time Commodore Perry forced open Japan they already knew about the politics and ways of the rest of the world so they were able to make effective decisions about opening Japan, trade agreements, and general good decisions for the future.

I found this topic quite interesting. While it is not earth shattering information it is just one of those little tidbits of history which makes things fun. So many things I take for granted with US history that I have learned, even the littlest of things, it is fun to start learning the little things of Japanese history. I hope to do more posts like this in the future.

The question now is have you read of this before or know much about it?

If you know of a dying language and you know people that speak it who are trying to save that language. You should point them to the Rosetta Stone Endangered Language Program. I was poking around their site and noticed they have a program available to help save dying languages. This piqued my interest more since I recently did the post on “Who are the Ainu?” so a dying language was more on top of my mind. Here is the main chunk of the overview.

Rosetta Stone Endangered Language Program

Pass on a Living Language to Future Generations

Around the world, indigenous communities are working to preserve and revitalize their languages. Rosetta Stone is a valuable resource for these efforts. We can help indigenous communities develop editions in their language for their exclusive use.

Throughout North America—from the Mohawk community of Kahnawake in the northeast to the Seminole Tribe in the deep south to NANA Corporation’s Inupiat shareholders in the Arctic. Rosetta Stone has been selected as the technology of choice for language revitalization.

Here are the bullet points of what they offer with their program.

• Community-Owned
• Culturally Relevant
• Keeps Language Integrity
• Supports Existing Efforts
• Offers Real Interactivity

To find out more visit: Rosetta Stone Endangered Language Program

I think this is really cool because it helps them and they get to help the world, and it shows they do have a passion for languages, which is cool. I hope a lot of people can find out about this program so we can save as many languages as possible, if for nothing else archival purposes.

The title is a bit misleading, but serves our purposes as a starting point. First I want to bring up that I am an Eagle Scout in the “Boy Scouts of America” and strongly believe in the values, skills and life lessons I have learned in Boy Scouts having been in it for almost 20 years now. Now that you have a bit of perspective of why I am writing this lets look a bit into “what” scouting is about.

What is Scouting

If scouts could be summed up in a couple a few sentences I would have to say it is a program that offers youth an opportunity to learn about the world and interact with others from people their own age to adults. Skills in outdoors, communications, and leadership are developed over several years of interaction with all types of people and through the school of hard knocks. It helps prepare young people to better prepare themselves for the future by presenting similar situations to them that they would come up against later in life.

To illustrate how Scouting can better prepare you for the future i’d like to call on a personal example instead of trying to rely on some abstract explanation. In scouting you must serve in a leadership role be-it a small group or the whole group. I served a few terms as the senior youth leader in which I had to plan and run the meetings and delegate accordingly. This involved more paper work and co-ordination than anything else. I had to make sure I found who could do what and helped to co-ordinate so they could do what they needed, usually teaching something. This is not unlike running a company you spend more time doing administrative tasks over what your business actually does.

So how has this helped me for the future. Well the easiest example would be that I am currently helping to start a Japanese Language Club at my local college and it is mostly paperwork and coordinating with people to make sure we are doing things right. I can easily step into this role and fulfill it because of the direct benefits of Scouting.

Hopefully that helps you gauge an idea of the benefits of scouting. So lets move on.

History of Scouting in Japan

Pre-World War II

The first Boy Scout Troop was formed in Japan in 1909 at a school, but quickly disappeared when the teacher left that school. Many more troops sprang up here and there accross japan for the next 13 years, but there was no real guiding force behind them. In 1922 Boy Scouts of Japan was officially formed and became a true organization. Scouting in Japan came to be noticed by the public after the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923 when Scouts help to rebuild, and the statesman who was incharge of the rebuilding process was able to bring word of Boy Scouts to the general public during his travels around Japan.

World War II

Scouting almost died during World War II and shortly there after during the occupation as former military personal were scrutinzed and not given much lee-way in what they could do. Later though things relaxed and Scouting flourished in Japan once more with membership growing to 80,000 members in only a few short years.

Today

SAJ celebrated its 75th Anniversary of founding of the National Scout Association in 1997, and hosted the second Asia-Pacific Regional Top Leaders’ Summit Conference in Gotemba and Tokyo.

Scouting in Japan has grown steadily and established an eminent place for itself in social education for young people. The aim of the Scout Association of Japan is to help young people become responsible humanitarian citizens, who can appreciate and practice loyalty, courage and self-respect in an international perspective. With the support of volunteer leaders, the Scout movement in Japan provides fun filled, challenging programs, with an emphasis on developing each young person’s character, health, abilities and sense of service to others.

The Scout Association of Japan is a non-political, voluntary movement, with open subscription. The geographic structure of Japanese Scouting is the Council, generally conforming to prefecture boundaries. Japanese Scouting also exists abroad, in communities with large native Japanese populations, such as Amsterdam, Netherlands and Singapore.

Earlier I said the title was a bit misleading. I say that because Boy Scouts of Japan re-named to Scout Association of Japan, and abbreviated as SAJ. SAJ then opened the doors to the girls/female youth in all Sections in 1995.

Structure of Scouting Program in Japan

The United States as 3 sections to it. Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venturing, with venturing being a bit of a side thing more than an integral part. However the SAJ has 5 parts to it.

Beaver Scouts
This is for the youngest group. It mostly exists to form new relationships with others and have fun learning basic skills and team work. A couple of activities might be basic arts and crafts to visiting the zoo with fellow Beaver’s.

Cub Scouts
Cub Scouts is for the bit more mature so might extend activities to include more complex arts and crafts along with camping skills at a basic level and start to introduce them to things they will come accross in Boy Scouts.

Boy Scouts
At this point the scout has a basic understanding of camping skills and other related skills along with the ability to participate and accomplish things with others. So now starts the path of learning leadership and further develop camping skills beyond setting up a tent and eating.

Venture
This is more advanced part of scouting where you will take everything you have learned and usually start to lead larger groups of people in various activities as you work towards Fuji Scout. You learn to deal with all kinds of people as by this age many people have matured to a point where attitudes are easily distinguishable. Along with all this you will probably start participating in activities going beyond just camping in the woods from white watering kayaking to Extended Backpacking trips, or even Mountain Climbing, via cliff faces.

At this level you work towards Fuji Scout which is the highest rank in SAJ equivalent to Eagle Scout in the United States. As I understand it not many Scouters are able to earn the rank of Fuji Scout much like the rank of Eagle where only 2% of all total scouts earn Eagle Scout. I read somewhere that as of 1998 only 3000 people had earned Fuji Scout. I was unable to find information that I could read regarding total numbers of scouts in Japan.

Rover
This level is a personal growth section where one grows through service to scouting, their family, and their community.

Scout Motto, Promise/Oath, and laws

The scouting program in Japan is broken up into 2 distinct parts. Cub Scouts and “Regular Scouts”. Cub scouts are your elementary age kids (Beaver and Cub) while Regular Scouts are Middle School to High School aged (Scout, Venture and Rover). Each level has a motto which is something that is quick and meaningful that you should try to do everyday. The promise, or oath, which is something that you will strive to do in life. And laws which you should follow to be the best you can. I’ll list these now.

Scouts

Motto

• Be prepared

Promise

• On my honor, I promise I will do my best to do my duty to God/Buddha and the country, and to obey the Scout Laws, to help other people at all times, and to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

Laws

• A Scout is
  1. Faithful
  2. Friendly
  3. Courteous
  4. Kind
  5. Cheerful
  6. Thrifty
  7. Courageous
  8. Thankful

Cub Scouts

Motto

• Always, Be in High Spirits

Promise

• I promise to behave honestly and steadily, and to follow the pack laws

Pack Laws

• Cub Scouts
  1. Obey
  2. Look After Themselves
  3. Work Together
  4. Help Younger Ones
  5. Do Good Deeds

Ranks

Each rank builds on each other and are merit based. You must earn the ranks they are not awarded based on age. Here they are in order.

1. Tenderfoot (Tenderfoot)
2. 2nd Class (Ni-kyu)
3. 1st Class (Ikkyu)
4. Chrysanthemum (kiku)
5. Fuji Scout (Comparable to Eagle Scout)

Noteable Scouts

• Ryutaro Hashimoto, the 82nd and 83rd Prime Minister of Japan
• Yukio Hattori, the fifth president of the Hattori Nutrition College, commentator on the Japanese cooking competition program Iron Chef
• Soichi Noguchi, Japanese astronaut
• Makoto Raiku, mangaka (Zatch Bell!)

Conclusion

There is much much much more detail I could go into, but I think this is a good overview to go beyond the general boy scouting is for youth explanation. The basic structure and purpose is important to understand to really understand what scouting is about. There is one thing to remember though, at the end of the day beyond all the politics beyond all the bickering that may happen; at the end of they Scouting is about one thing and one thing only helping the youth of today become good responsible adults in the future. That is a truly noble and great goal for all.

Culture

Misunderstanding

Pop Culture

‘Manga’: heart of pop culture
Coffee Japan’s favorite soft drink
Why Japanese Love Watching Celebs Eating
Man Stole for Money to Enjoy a Few Things

Books

100 Books for Understanding Contemporary Japan

Travel

Getting Around in Japan
Riding the Rail
Have you seen these signs?
Tokyos Rush Hour Rudeness
The Three Most Scenic Spots in Japan

Foreign Relations

Nihonjin I Presume
The Gaijin Debate
Not Fitting In In Japan
No Pets

History

Watch the Growth of Shinjuku from 1969 – 2004

The Humorous

How Asians Take Pictures

Technology

Mobile spam very discomforting for three in five Japanese
Ninja Typing Speed

Here are some more interesting links around the English/Japanese bloggosphere. Most of the links I try to get are to help better understand the culture in Japan as understanding the culture is a good way to understand the language. I only make these posts when I find 20 links I think are more interesting than others.

This time around I want to make a special thanks to The Nihon Sun and Turning-Iwatean. You all are making some great culture posts, so many in fact I can’t post them all.

Architecture

What $510.00 usd Apartment in Central Tokyo looks like

Cosplay

Cosplay Battle

Culture

Cost of living in Rural Japan
Yanki Boy
Youth Never Had it So Good in Japan
Hungry for Fish? Local Fish Markets Across Japan
What I think of School Uniforms

Foreign Relations

Top 10 Things NOT to do when Visiting Japan.
Studying and Working in Japan – Resources
Prejudiced?

History

Japanese Myths and Mythical creatures: Tanuki
Kimono
Noren Elegant Entryway Curtains from Japan

Marketing

Japanese Outdoor Media Innovations

Photography

The tuna auction at Tsukiji fishmarket
Fuji Five Lakes Hiking…
Around the neighborhood 9
Inohana Koen
Saturday Picture Post: Old Signs

Relationship

Happy Dates and Lovers Secrets

Technology

Cable Internet Rather Popular in Japan

Yakuza

Japanese Yakuza Hit by Recession

Here are some more interesting links around the English/Japanese bloggosphere. Most of the links I try to get are to help better understand the culture in Japan as understanding the culture is a good way to understand the language.

Photography

Starting Photography – Street Photography
A Night In Osaka
Ghost Town Haikyo…
The Tokyoite: Crossing Yasukuni Dori

Food

Lunch-time habits in Japan

Japanese Language

Why are you learning Japanese
Learn to Read! Japanese Reading Lesson 004: はまやらわん

Technology

XBox 360 Best-Seller in Japan
Working at Amazon and Microsoft (Danny Choo)

History

The Meiji and Taisho Eras in Photographs

Geography

A Closer Look At Tokyo:Lesser Known Facts And Figures
Japan:A Closer Look at Kansai – Part 1
Japan:A Closer Look at Kansai – Part 2
Japan:A Closer Look at Kansai – Part 3

Culture

Making Geta – Traditional Shoes of Japan
The Healing Properties of a Japanese Onsen
An A-to-O guide to Japan’s obsession with blood types

Foreign Relations

The Profile of a Gaijin Whiner
Anti-Acts of Retaliation #1: Cock-Blocking Chikan

With all the stuff there is to read about Japan and its various cultures I often find interesting things with nuggets of information, or just plain funny stories.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a good way to bookmark these effectively.  Social Bookmarking sites don’t really work, talk to me in person if you want to know why.  So the next best thing is a blog post with links in them.

So this starts “Links Around Town” where I will post up links about Japan and the various cultural things that are going on that I find interesting or funny.  These are not the latest and greatest as I will only post this when I get 20 or so links.

Laws

Putting Japanese Cycling Laws to the Test

Dark Side

Ugly Tokyo: A Shibuya Neighborhood
Junk Japan

History

Pictures of foreigners from 17th/18th century Japan
Oldest Hotel-company in the World

Culture

Japan Doesn’t Get It
Making Geta – Traditional Shoes of Japan
Single Japanese Women and Marriage
“I’m on the train” annoys two in three Japanese
Kawaii
Graduation in Japan

Technology

One in Four digital TV plugged into the internet in Japan
Japan Optic Fiber Internet
Few Japanese women share their computers
Surfing with computer versus mobile in Japan

Web

Social Media in Japan
Blogging in Japan
Blogging in Japan 2

Foreign Relations

(can’t find the first one in this series keep getting 404)
Acts of retaliation #2: Joystick
Acts of Retaliation #3: Don’t you understand Japanese?

Japan has a colorful and long history compared to america. If it is half as interesting as my own country then it should prove to be fun to research. I know in learning the history of the United States I have learned a lot of valuable life lessons and especially things not to do. First though lets look at how we can even break down the history in more logical units of something to research. Fortunately, wikipedia makes that easy by listing them all out. I hope to do a summary post on each era as more of a primer then maybe more detail later.

• Paleolithic (35000–14000 BC)
• Jōmon period (14000–400 BC)
• Yayoi period (400 BC – AD 250)
• Kofun period (250–538)
• Asuka period (538–710)
• Nara period (710–794)
• Heian period (794–1185)
• Kamakura period (1185–1333)
• Muromachi period (1336–1573)
• Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568–1603)
• Edo period (1603–1868)
• Meiji period (1868–1912)
• Taishō period (1912–1926)
• Shōwa period (1926–1989)
• Heisei period (1989–present)

Please leave comments on what you may find interesting in each era or things you might find interesting about an era. What are some things I should look for while researching?