In 1949, the Tokyo Junior Chamber of Commerce was established by young volunteers with passion and a sense of responsibility, with the ideal of establishing a brighter, more affluent society. This was the start of the Junior Chamber (Jaycee) movement in Japan. (With the enactment of the Chamber of Commerce Law, the name was changed from Junior Chamber of Commerce to Junior Chamber.) One after another, Junior Chambers were established in other parts of Japan, based on the principles of mutual advancement and contribution to society. In 1951, Junior Chamber International Japan was established to serve as a comprehensive liaison organization for Jaycee chapters nationwide. At present, there are Junior Chambers in every part of Japan. Based on the three principles of discipline, service and fellowship, and with the goal of creating a brighter future, Jaycees sponsor volunteer activities and actively work to resolve societal issues such as the need to streamline government bureaucracy. Moreover, as a member of Japan Chamber International (JCI), JCI Japan works with Junior Chambers in other countries to conduct various activities on the world stage.
Characteristics of Junior Chambers
Any youth of good character can become a Jaycee if he or she so desires. However, Junior Chambers have an age restriction: members must be 20 to 40 years of age. This is because the Junior Chambers were set up to be a young person's organization whose objective is to contribute to society through the combined diligence and passion of its youthful members. When Jaycees become older than 40 years of age, they must resign from active service. This age restriction is the major characteristic of the Junior Chambers. It ensures that the organization remains youthful so this youthful energy can become a wellspring of bold and effective action. The term of the President and all other Junior Chamber offices is limited to one year. Having Jaycees assume various posts for one year each enables them to gain a wealth of experience. It also enables the achievements of self-training to be used as feedback for a variety of other activities. The hands-on training that Jaycees experience at the Junior Chamber can be employed in wide-ranging fields of activity, and can contribute to society through the Jaycee alumni networks and in various spheres. Former Jaycees have become members of the Japanese Diet (Parliament), governors, mayors, local council members and so on, and are currently active as leaders in Japan.
About Junior Chamber International(JCI)
The Jaycee movement began as a small youth activity group in St. Louis, Missouri, U. S. A. in 1915. This group was established with the objective of training young people to become leaders of a new society, one that could help build a free society and ensure economic growth. The value of Jaycee activities was soon recognized and the small group grew to become a major youth organization devoted to activities to improve society in the United States. In 1944, Junior Chamber International (JCI) was founded as an international organization representing Junior Chambers in eight nations: the U. S., Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama. More nations joined each year, and in 1951 Japan became a member. With more than 260,000 members, JCI is the largest youth organization in the world. In addition to its active members, more than 2.5 million people are Jaycee alumni. A world conference is held each year in November, and this conference serves as important venue for international interchange among members from around the world.
Activities
In order to ensure that children grow to become healthy, well-adjusted adults, JCI Japan holds youth projects in various parts of the country. These activities are designed to form a bridge between schools, families and the local community.
JCI Japan holds athletic competitions in various parts of the country for young and old alike. These activities are designed to ensure the physical and emotional well-being of the local community through the joy that sports provide.
Jaycees are committed to the goal of achieving happiness for every person in the world. For this reason, each of the more than 40,000 JCI Japan members contributes JPY ¥5 per day to raise funds for education and medical equipment in developing countries in various parts of the world, and to provide assistance to disaster-stricken regions. JCI also responds immediately with charitable fundraising efforts in the event of a disaster at home or abroad.
JCI Japan sponsors fellowship camping trips in which many different people -- including children, the mentally and physically challenged, exchange students from other countries and so on -- can join together to enjoy nature, thereby experiencing the deep emotion that nature evokes and benefiting from interchange that transcends differences in age, race, culture and so on. At the time of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 1995, many JCI Japan volunteers went to assist rescue efforts in the quake-stricken region. Service is one of the three main principles of Junior Chambers, and it is considered to be one of the responsibilities of young people.
Developing a broad international outlook and building friendships is the path to world peace. Junior Chambers in various locations cooperate with JCI chapters in countries around the world, sponsoring exchange student programs and fellowship camps, hosting exchange students and so on, in order to expand the circle of fellowship beyond national borders.
With the cooperation of citizens and local governments, Junior Chambers in various locations conduct community improvement activities aimed at preserving local attributes. Jaycees take the lead in conducting environmental beautification and other activities designed to revitalize local communities, reviving local culture and so on, lending their youthful energy to the task of improving the communities in which they live.
In order to create a better society, Junior Chambers hold various conferences at the LOM, block, district and national levels. At these meetings, members discuss topics ranging from community improvement to administrative reform and educational and environmental issues.
To enable members to use their leadership skills in various activities, Junior Chambers work to improve the capabilities of all members by creating special programs and conducting hands-on training.
In 1949, the Tokyo Junior Chamber of Commerce was established by young volunteers with passion and a sense of responsibility, with the ideal of establishing a brighter, more affluent society. This was the start of the Junior Chamber (Jaycee) movement in Japan. (With the enactment of the Chamber of Commerce Law, the name was changed from Junior Chamber of Commerce to Junior Chamber.) One after another, Junior Chambers were established in other parts of Japan, based on the principles of mutual advancement and contribution to society. In 1951, Junior Chamber International Japan was established to serve as a comprehensive liaison organization for Jaycee chapters nationwide. At present, there are Junior Chambers in every part of Japan. Based on the three principles of discipline, service and fellowship, and with the goal of creating a brighter future, Jaycees sponsor volunteer activities and actively work to resolve societal issues such as the need to streamline government bureaucracy. Moreover, as a member of Japan Chamber International (JCI), JCI Japan works with Junior Chambers in other countries to conduct various activities on the world stage.
Any youth of good character can become a Jaycee if he or she so desires. However, Junior Chambers have an age restriction: members must be 20 to 40 years of age. This is because the Junior Chambers were set up to be a young person's organization whose objective is to contribute to society through the combined diligence and passion of its youthful members. When Jaycees become older than 40 years of age, they must resign from active service. This age restriction is the major characteristic of the Junior Chambers. It ensures that the organization remains youthful so this youthful energy can become a wellspring of bold and effective action. The term of the President and all other Junior Chamber offices is limited to one year. Having Jaycees assume various posts for one year each enables them to gain a wealth of experience. It also enables the achievements of self-training to be used as feedback for a variety of other activities. The hands-on training that Jaycees experience at the Junior Chamber can be employed in wide-ranging fields of activity, and can contribute to society through the Jaycee alumni networks and in various spheres. Former Jaycees have become members of the Japanese Diet (Parliament), governors, mayors, local council members and so on, and are currently active as leaders in Japan.
The Jaycee movement began as a small youth activity group in St. Louis, Missouri, U. S. A. in 1915. This group was established with the objective of training young people to become leaders of a new society, one that could help build a free society and ensure economic growth. The value of Jaycee activities was soon recognized and the small group grew to become a major youth organization devoted to activities to improve society in the United States. In 1944, Junior Chamber International (JCI) was founded as an international organization representing Junior Chambers in eight nations: the U. S., Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama. More nations joined each year, and in 1951 Japan became a member. With more than 260,000 members, JCI is the largest youth organization in the world. In addition to its active members, more than 2.5 million people are Jaycee alumni. A world conference is held each year in November, and this conference serves as important venue for international interchange among members from around the world.
