FIVE Explorer Scouts will be saying sayonara to Warrington and konnichiwa to Japan as they jet off to Japan next year.

Josephine Murphy, Adam Hooper, Sean Hooper, Abi Smith and Adam Farini, all aged 15, have been selected to attend the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in the Asian country.

They were selected following a day of team building and problem-solving back in September and now they are working to try and raise thousands of pounds to make the trip themselves and help fund other Scouts from other countries.

The quintet will travel to Tokyo and Kirara-hama, Yamaguchi City, to take part in the Scouting event with other representatives from the UK, which takes place every four years in different locations all over the world.

The theme of the Jamboree is "Wa", which is Japanese for “a spirit of unity” and throughout their stay they will take part in many challenging activities.

Some may even get to attend a ceremony to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings 70 years ago.

Josephine said: “I’m looking forward to meeting people from other Scout contingencies and being able to discuss their own knowledge and understanding of the world that can be passed on to others to try and make this world be as one.”

Adam Farini added: “I can’t wait to sharing his scouting experiences with scouts from all over the world and bringing back those experiences and sharing them with our community.”

Sean and Abi also said they would look forward to embracing the experiences and adventures ahead.

To prepare for the trip they are now learning about Japanese culture and customs and getting to know other Scouts in the region.

And since selected the group have been busy fundraising with car washes, cake sales, bucket collections and bag packing.

They have already been helped with fundraising from 12th Birchwood Scouts, Warrington Wolves Charity Foundation, Golden Square, B&Q, MEP Brian Simpson, Lyons, British Legion, Poulton and Fearnhead and Grapenhall Parish Councils.