Scout H eather Dempsey tells JULIE MORGAN of her Japanese Jamboree

ASBY teenager Heather Dempsey recently travelled to a World Scout Jamboree in Japan.

She, along with her 15-year-old brother, Nat, joined thousands of scouts for two weeks of activities, fun and making new friends.

These are her reflections on the visit.

“EVEN as we took off on our six thousand mile journey, we had already overcome a sizable challenge,” said 17-year-old Heather. “Bonding with a group consisting of mostly complete strangers: 18 Cumbrian scouts, nine girl guides from Merseyside and nine scouts from Botswana – tied together only by the solidarity of the Scout Movement.

“An early lesson from the Jamboree was the value of solid friendships from sometimes just across the county, as well as the world.’’

After landing in Japan, Heather and her friends crammed many attractions into the three-day trip to Tokyo including climbing 634m Skytree – the city’s tallest tower – visiting the historic Asakusa and the cutting edge Shibuya as well as experiencing a simulation of the disaster that struck Japan in 2011 at the Earthquake Centre.

Heather said: “Many of these activities were chosen and organised in small groups, giving us a truly independent and empowering experience. After navigating the Tokyo Metro, I feel like I could do the London Underground blind-folded.

“Some of the best moments came from simply observing everyday life. We battled through Monday morning rush hour, in trains brimming with scores of identically dressed businessmen.

“Our visit to the metropolitan capital of the world culminated in Tokyo Live, an illustrious showcase of Japanese culture and entertainment,” Heather said. “Beginning with sumo wrestling matches, the evening encompassed the traditional and modern, sets from J-pop girl groups rolled on into ninja stunt shows, and later the climax of the evening, a tribe of mesmerizing Japanese drummers.

“The celebration was accompanied by carnival games and food, and many of us lingered long after the close among the buzz of new friendships and under the Tokyo Bay sunset.

“Morning heralded the next chapter of our journey: The 580-mile trip to the Jamboree site at Yamaguchi via the world-famous bullet train.”

Heather explained how a typical day began at around 6am, when it became too hot and bright to sleep, or 5am if it was your turn to collect the food for the day from the distribution tent.

“Despite the early wake-up, this offered a pleasant spell of cool weather before the sunrise peered over the striking mountainous horizon.”

One of Heather’s more poignant moments was the day trip to Hiroshima, including a visit to the A-bomb museum and the peace crane memorial “where we laid hundreds of colourful homemade paper cranes. The harrowing recounts of the explosion and speeches of goodwill from scouts the world over at the memorial service left us with a profound sympathy, and a glimpse of understanding few are so fortunate as to achieve.”

Another personal highlight for Heather was being selected from 3,000 participants to represent the UK in a meeting with the Jamboree’s most esteemed guest: His Imperial Highness The Crown Prince of Japan.

An entourage of other dignitaries, including the Prime Minister, also came along.

“Representatives from each nation, including myself, met with The Crown Prince in a formal dinner,” Heather said. “I was immensely proud and astounded to have been chosen as an ambassador for our nation, and the special visit was an eye-opener to say the least. The security made me feel like I was somewhere between a Bond film and a supermax prison, in the best possible way!’’

Heather said the most powerful aspect of the Jamboree was the “ubiquitous goodwill and spirit of unity on the campsite.

“Everybody wanted to learn and experience all they could about the huge spectrum of culture, religion and way of life accommodated by this most celebrated of all Scouting events; minds were opened, parties were many, and negativity slunk back into its dark cave to die.”

Heather also spent three days staying with a local family who “volunteered to put us up and give us a taste of authentic Japanese life”.

Her final night was spent at Izumo festival, where she enjoyed a 50-minute firework display, dressed in real kimonos and geta, expertly fitted by the grandmother of the family “despite complaints about our comparatively towering stature’’.

Heather said after countless hugs and invites to Britain, she said goodbye to those whom, in three short days, “seemed to have become a second family on the other side of the world. Thanks to the wonders of Facebook, we’ll be able to stay in touch for years to come”.

“The Jamboree has left me with the opinion – which I firmly believe I will hold for the rest of my days –that if everyone were so fortunate as to do and see what we have done and seen, the planet would be a vastly different and better place for everyone in it,” Heather added.

“Among gloomy news bulletins and scaremongering headlines, one can develop a bleak outlook on human nature. The Jamboree proves every four years, beyond doubt, that people with open minds from all over the world are more than capable of just getting on with each other.’’