Because “Normal” is Just Boring: JARL Celebrates 100 Years of Adventure

In an age where we carry the entire internet in our pockets and connecting with someone on the other side of the planet takes a mere tap of a screen, it’s easy to take communication for granted. But for the Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL), ease of access isn’t the point—adventure is.

As we approach 2026, JARL is gearing up for a massive milestone: its 100th Anniversary. This isn’t just a look back at a century of history; it is a declaration that the spirit of exploration is more vital today than ever before.

A Historic QST from 1926

The journey began on June 12, 1926. Thirty-seven pioneering members founded the league and sent a message out into the ether that would mark the start of a new era for Japan:

“We have the honor of informing that we amateurs in Japan have organized today the Japanese Amateur Radio League. Please QST to all stations.”

Just over a year later, in September 1927, the station JXAX was authorized as Japan’s first licensed amateur radio station. From those humble sparks of electricity, a century-long legacy of technical innovation and global connection was born.

The 16-Month Commemorative Period

To honor this dual history—the founding of the league and the birth of licensed amateur radio in Japan—JARL is launching a special 16-month commemorative period.

• 2026: Marks the 100th Anniversary of JARL.
• 2027: Marks 100 years of Amateur Radio in Japan.

This celebration is a collaborative effort involving manufacturers, partner organizations, and operators across the country. The goal is to not only celebrate the past milestones but to take the first definitive steps into the next century.

Why We Still Do It: The Thrill of the Unknown

The centerpiece of the anniversary message is a sentiment that resonates with every maker, hacker, and radio operator: “Because ‘normal’ is just boring.”

Modern technology has made “normal” convenient, but it has arguably stripped away the sense of wonder. When everything is easy, we stop looking for new paths. We stop exploring.

Amateur radio offers what the smartphone cannot:

• The Physical Challenge: Pursuing the depths of technology to build the perfect rig.
• The Reach: Carrying radio waves to Antarctica or bouncing signals off the moon (EME) and outer space.
• The Invisible Connection: Touching something you cannot see—the radio spectrum itself.

Pioneer the Future

As JARL notes, “The exploration of new ways, it’s so exciting for us.”

This centennial is a reminder that while we have lost some of the mystery of the world to the “new normal,” we can reclaim it through curiosity. Whether you are a veteran operator (OM) or someone curious about the magic of RF, this is the time to go on adventures far beyond daily life.

Here’s to the next 100 years of QSLs, DXing, and refusing to be boring.

73!

Visit https://100th.jarl.org/en