Japan
Ajisu

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    • Day 15

      Opening ceremony (from the front row!)

      July 29, 2015 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

      So we've ended up in the front row of the opening ceremony and it's going to be incredible! The sun is shining still and everyone is very toasty.
      Everyone has done lots of swapping today and has had great fun!
      Further updates to follow...
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    • Day 15

      Jamboree update!!

      July 29, 2015 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

      Sorry for the lack of posts recently, we've had a lot to do to set up our site and get everything ready for all our visitors!! We'll get the blog updated with all or hoho stories as soon as possible - sorry if it takes a while... It's because we are having so much fun!!Read more

    • Day 17

      Hiroshima!

      July 31, 2015 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

      We all woke up yesterday at the early time of 5am to go to Hiroshima. Saying that all were excited is an understatement. The early start all got to us though and as a result I must apologise for the late blog update. We all got ready and had to rush for the bus as we almost missed it. Luckily, the buses were also slightly late!

      After a 2 and a half hour drive which included a short anime movie about the events of Hiroshima to prepare us for what was ahead and airconditioning which some people said was the best part of their day. We started making our way around the park and luckily Lee apparently had an encyclopaedic knowledge of Hiroshima though Cerys thought that was debatable.

      After looking around the area and the museum we all went into the readings hall where poems written by survivors of Hiroshima were read. After that they called for messages from Scouts. We were all very proud when Alex Cater stood up and delivered an incredibly moving message about how violence is very rarely the answer and talking things through is better for everyone. After all of this we went on the bus for the way home. I'm confident that all of our unit learned something and had fun in the process.
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    • Day 21

      Only Kimonos Aloud!

      August 4, 2015 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

      After a free morning yesterday, the KD's went to the Science zone. Despite this being very informative, it was in no way the highlight of our day. In the evening, Fuji subcamp met for a massive party. The KD's felt very patriotic while marching into the hub tent. We saw a few different units perform before us including our Welsh counterparts the Samurai Sheep along with their Bhutanese solidarity patrol who were excellent. After watching the great talent that came before us, it was our turn. We got up on stage and started with Seb, Ollie B, Ioan and Martin forming a quartet singing Stars from Les Miserables which seemed to be enjoyed by all in the tent. Then the whole unit started performing Calon Lan and It's Not Unusual which we certainly did justice. It seemed like all in the hub tent enjoyed our performance and we definitely all enjoyed as well. We all came back after that feeling very juvious with ourselves.Read more

    • Day 21

      Oren Patrol's Community Day (part 2)!

      August 4, 2015 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

      Hi it's Gwyn here and this is my perspective of our community day. Sword-fighting, painting performances and five-storey pagodas; it was a thrilling day for Oren patrol.

      The day began with a speech by the Mayor of Yamaguchi which was followed by a dynamic performance of Taiko drumming.

      As per usual we felt like zombies stepping into the sun, burning up as we entered a traditional Japanese park. Here we found a shrine to Buddha and a five-storey pagoda from the 15th Century, ranked third most beautiful in Japan.

      Fortunately, the burning alive couldn't ruin our mood. Spurred outwards by ice-cream and incredible views of the park, Oren travelled to Yamaguchi high school, similar by sight to one in the UK. Approaching waves and smiles, a true sense of "Community" did indeed pervade the atmosphere.

      Here we partook in kendo (Japanese sword fighting), a tea ceremony, archery, origami and caligraphy. My favourite part of the day wad watching a shodo performance by students. This effectively, involved watching paint dry to music, yet it was definitatively one of the most exciting ten minutes of the trip. Shodo involves the painting on Japanese symbols (caligraphy) by multiple students on one massive canvas, during Japanese music, which was more suited to a nightclub than a high school, plays incredibly loudly with swinging brushes and suprisingly tuneful shouts, this was a performance which was dramatic, exciting and most of all, surreal. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

      It was hard to leave such an intriguing and fun-filled place, but I am sure the memories we made will not be forgotten.

      We were joined on this day by scouts from the Netherlands and Lebanon, and arriv3d back singing a playlist of Tom Jones, Queen and Bruno Mars (amidst many others). For me, it was my favourite day of the Jamboree. We engaged with the local community, we learned about their culture and sang with those we have never met before from areas we have never been to. This day was when I truly understood the purpose of the World Scout Jamboree and I'm sure that others feel the same. Five stars from Oren Patrol.
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    • Day 23

      Water, Water, Water!

      August 6, 2015 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

      Yesterday was definitely a high point for the unit. We woke up early for our day based around (as you may have guessed by the title) water! We headed off to a centre where we tried paddle boarding. It's fair to say that a lot of us may have spent most of our time swimming instead which no one was complaining about. In this heat, any water is greatly appreciated. Following this, we went and assembled some lucky charms (the time it took us to make it means that they can't have been that lucky). Throughout all of this our spirits were high because we knew what was next. We took a final bus to the beach where we were going to go swimming. We got there and had to wait for a little while but eventually we got to go swimming. We were all ecstatic and Martin even grew some seaweed hair! When we had to leave, we were all sad but cheerful with big smiles on our face.Read more

    • Day 23

      Silence, song and change!

      August 6, 2015 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

      We woke up late this morning as we had a free morning. Some spent it swapping badges, others spent it resting but we all came together for one point. Today was a very important day as it's the 70th anniversary of the atomic bomb being dropped on Hiroshima and the small town we are living in had a silence to remember. You could've heard a pin drop.

      After that we all departed to the dome to partake in a suprise the leaders had for us. They, on behalf of the head of the UK contingent, had been nominated to perform in the dome. We were very nervous when we started a round of it's not unusual which we must have nailed as all of the crowd were cheering.

      Following on from this, we went to the Global Development Village where we learnt how to improve the world. In particular, I learnt about how stereotypes can affect the way we see people and can affect us negatively. I think we all learnt something important that can help us and others.

      Then we had free time where some carried on swapping badges like this morning and some spent it resting which yet again was similar to this morning. Then we came to tea time where one of our patrols had prepared a meal for us. Despite their lack of confidence in their culinary ability, the chefs did an excellent job. Now we're enjoying the end of our last day of activities before the closing ceremony tommorow evening.
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    • Day 25

      Closing Ceremony!

      August 8, 2015 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

      We are all currently sat next to one of the two domes in the shade, with two hours to kill before we have to depart on a bus which will take us to a train station. From here, we will catch a bullet train to Tokyo for the last leg of our journey. We're all very sad that we have to leave the Jamboree site behind us but we all have new friends and great memories because of it.

      Yesterday was a day of dropping tents and packing up which everyone found incredibly tedious but there was one point before the evening was upon us where everyone was enjoying themselves. As I'm sure you are aware our leaders have worked very hard for the last 18 months making sure we have a very enjoyable, smooth and memorable Jamboree and through any troubles we or they may have had, they managed to pull it off. To say thank you we paid the Hungarian food house to bake a cake for 40 for us and also wrote down a little message of thanks to the leaders and put them in a UK contingent water bottle. The leaders were all emotional but they deserved it and once again on behalf of the KD's I'd like to thank all of the leaders for being amazing. We couldn't have hoped for any better!

      Later on in the evening was the closing ceremony. It was enjoyed by all and saw the handing over of the Jamboree to North America where it will be held in 2019. It also saw some high profile guests from within Scouting, Japanese parliament and the UN talk to us about various issues and how we can change the world in enjoyable, inspirational lectures. The closing ceremony was great except for one element... the entertainment. There were two artists that are apparently big in Japan. The first was called C-UTE and were very hyperactive. I don't think any of us enjoyed it immensely but none of us could have expected what came next. There was an American artist (who lives in Japan) called Marty Friedman who came on with his band. The Swiss next to us enjoyed them but I think they're the only ones. In fact, Gwyn believed that "Marty Friedman exemplifies the contents of Pandora's box" along with many other statements about him. Even though the music didn't appeal to all of us, the closing ceremony was still very good and we will all remember it fondly.
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    • Day 21

      Community Day with Gleision

      August 4, 2015 in Japan ⋅ 🌙 23 °C

      Waking up at 5am and being typically inches from being late we, Gleision, embarked on our 3 hour journey to our first activity. Due to our hour long toilet breaks this took its toll but still we were all either quaking in our sweaty shoes or extremely excited for...THE BUG DOME!

      On discovering The Giant Japanese Killer flying scarab, Jon the fearless ran miles. Quickly followed by the rest of the patrol out of the frying pan and into the fire, or in this case out of the bug museum into the open air exclosure, where we met marvels next big blockbuster, Beatle Boy.

      As we attended to Adam's constant barrage of exclamation due to the numerous Beatles defacating on his hat. An adorable Japanese boy walked in with his family instantly capturing what Japan is all about by donning a whole six scarab, a number of which but inches from his face. Of course watching the whole patrol jump with fear, laughed and continued to laugh and enjoy the experience.

      After refuelling with salty chips from the local bug museum canteen, it was time to travel another ten minutes to the local town hall, where we appreciated a play to God's depicting a story from Japanese mythology. Orochi, eight headed snake had killed all but one of their children after plotting with princess the brother of the Sungoddess poisons the snake with a poisoned stake. Once defeated the beast retrieves the Treasure Sword of Heaven from the tail.

      On giving this sword to his sister he accepted back into heaven and got the princess.The accompanied by percussion and traditional Japanese singing it was a very gripping experience.

      After a very filling launch we concluded our community day with multiple work shops at Hagi Junior School rounding from origami to traditional Japanese toys.

      Having truely experienced Japanese culture it was time to head back to the bus for our 3 hour drive back.

      Conor
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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Ajisu, 阿知須

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