Boy Scouts of Manchukuo

The Boy Scouts of Manchukuo (Chinese: 滿洲國童子團聯盟; pinyin: Mǎnzhōuguó Tóngzǐ Tuán Liánméng) was a Scouting association of Manchukuo. The Japanese military seized Manchuria in 1931, created the puppet government of Manchukuo in 1932, and controlled it until 1945. The Manchukuo government also set up Japanese-style Scouting in schools, which included para-military training.

Background

In February 1937, Isamu Takeshita was appointed head of the Boy Scouts of Japan, the Sea Scouts, and the YMCA, as part of the general militarisation of Japanese sports and athletics taking place at that time. Japanese military authorities did not consistently encourage the Scouting movement in occupied territories. Where local conditions were favourable, authorities would permit local Scouting or introduce Japanese-style Scouting, or Shōnendan, and sometimes even made this compulsory. On the other hand, where conditions were not favourable, and anti-Japanese sentiments were likely to be nurtured through Scouting, the authorities would prohibit it entirely.

Japanese military leaders banned Scouting for Chinese boys in occupied China by 1937, however they encouraged Japanese-style Scouting (少年團 Shōnendan) in Manchuria. In 1938 membership in the Concordia Shōnendan (協和少年團) was made compulsory for young people between 10 and 15 years old. Alternately styled the Manchukuo Boys Corps, Manchuria Boy Scout Organisation, and the Manchuria League of Boy Scouts, the Scouts used the Scout motto of the existing Scouts of China, "智、勇、仁" (Wisdom, Courage, Benevolence), and Scout court of honour ceremonies were held at Confucian shrines.