Figure 1.--Here Japanese Scouts are participating in one of the mny local fstivals held all over the country each year. These festivals are a fascinaring combintion of religious and civil trditions. Unfortunately we can't read the Japanese tet on the signs.

We have only limited information on Japanese Scoutuing activities at this time. Hopefully Japanese Scouters can provide some information to help understand the many varied activities with which Japanese Scouts at all levels are involved. There are differences with the activity program depending on the diffeemt levels of Scouting. Games are especially popular with the younger boys (Beavers and Cubs) as well as te younger Scouts. As far as we know, Japanese Scouts play the same games developed by Scouts in Europe and America. Perhaps there are uniquely Japanese games. Hopefully our Japanese readers will provide ome insights here. Religion is an interesting topic and the Japanese approach here is different than in America where Scouts and more importabtly adult Scouter are required to believe in God. Japanese Scouts are encouraged to believe in God, but not required to do so. This reflects a more relaxed attitude towrd religion in Japan than the West. The Japanese for the most part believe in a kind of amorpphous sythesis of Buddhism and Shintoism, but religious commitment for the most part is not as intense as in the West, especially America. But also the Japanese do not have the negative attitude toward religion that are often expressed by the Western political left. Scouts often participate in the many festivals held throughout Japan. These festivals are commonly a mix of both religious and civic pagentry. Japanee Scouts like Scouts in all countries are involved in a wide range of outdoor activitie, surely the activities for which they are best known. This includes boating, camping, hiking, orientering, swimming, and other outdoor activitie. During the winter when outdoor activities are more difficult, boys may work on a range of outdoor skills like camp craft, compass usage, knot tieing, and others. Often the younger boys enjoy crafts and a variety of creative projects. And there has been an incresing emphasis on envirimental projecs and activities as is the case of most Scout movements around the world. This of course fits in nicely with the traditional Scouting emphais on nature and outdoor activitie,