TheImperial Guard of Japan has been two separate organizations dedicated to the protection of theEmperor of Japan and theImperial Family, palaces and other imperial properties. The first was theImperial guard divisions (Konoe Shidan), a quasi-independent elite branch of theImperial Japanese Army, which was dissolved shortly after World War II. The current organization is theImperial Guard Headquarters (Kouguu-Keisatsu Hombu; lit. Imperial Palace Police Headquarters), a civilian law enforcement organization that is part of theNational Police Agency.
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The Imperial Guard of theImperial Japanese Army was formed in 1867. It became the foundation of the Imperial Japanese Army after theEmperorMeiji assumed all the powers of state during theMeiji Restoration. The Imperial Guard, which consisted of 12,000 men organized and trained along French military lines, first saw action in theSatsuma Rebellion. It was organized into the1st Guards Infantry Brigade, which had the 1st and 2nd Regiments. The 3rd and 4th Regiments belonged to the 2nd Guards Infantry Brigade.
By 1885 the Imperial Japanese Army consisted of seven divisions, one of which was the Imperial Guard. A division consisted of four regiments containing an HQ and two battalions each. The Imperial Guard division was based inTokyo and was recruited on national lines; officers were also drawn nationally.
After theRusso-Japanese War in 1905, a second Guard Brigade was formed fromindigenous Formosans. In 1920 the Guards Cavalry Regiment, Guards Field Artillery Regiment, Guards Engineer Battalion, and Guards Transport Battalion, plus other Guards service units were raised, adding to the overallorder of battle of the force. From 1937 to 1939 the Guards Engineer Battalion was expanded into a regiment as was the Guards Transport Battalion.
In September 1939, the division was split into the 1st and 2nd Guards Brigades.
The 1st Guards Brigade, which contained the 1st and 2nd Guards Infantry Regiments, the cavalry regiment, and half of the support units, was transferred toSouth China. Here it became known as theMixed Guards Brigade. In October 1940, it joined other Japanese units occupyingFrench Indo-China. In April 1941 the Mixed Guards Brigade returned to Tokyo but it did not rejoin the Imperial Guards Division.
The 2nd Guards Brigade, which contained 3rd and 4th Guards Regiments, also went to China. In 1940, it went toShanghai before being posted toHainan Island. In June 1941, the 5th Guards Infantry Regiment joined the 2nd Guards Brigade becoming the Imperial Guard Division again. It later saw action in theBattles of Malaya andSingapore withTomoyuki Yamashita's 25th Army.
In May 1943, all designated Imperial Guard units were renamed again. The Mixed Guards Brigade in Tokyo became the1st Guards Division (which now consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 6th Guard Regiments) and the Imperial Guard Division became the2nd Guards Division. The3rd Guards Division, which never left Japan, was formed in 1944. It consisted of the 8th, 9th and 10th Guards Regiments. Sources do not agree if there ever was a 7th Guard Regiment.
All military Imperial Guard Divisions were dissolved at the end ofWorld War II.
InJapanese-occupiedMalaya andSingapore, the Guard Division was involved in several notoriouswar crimes such as theParit Sulong Massacre and theSook Ching massacre.Lt Gen.Takuma Nishimura, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by a British military court in relation to the Sook Ching killings, was later convicted of war crimes by an Australian Military Court in relation to the Parit Sulong massacre. He was executed by hanging on June 11, 1951.[1]
Until 1939, the Cavalry of the Imperial Guard wore a French-style parade uniform consisting of a dark-bluetunic with red Brandenburg braiding, a redkepi and redbreeches. The red kepi had a whiteplume with a red base. Prior to the general adoption of khaki by the Japanese Army during the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), an all-whitelinen uniform had been worn in hot weather.
The Infantry of the Imperial Guard wore a dark blue uniform with whiteleggings for both parade and service wear until 1905. It was distinguished from that of the line infantry by a red band and piping on the peaked service cap (instead of yellow). Officers wore a dark blue tunic with 5 rows of black mohairfroggings and dark blue breeches with a red stripe down each seam.
Following the adoption of a khaki service dress, the Guard Infantry wore this on all occasions, although officers retained the blue and red uniform for certain ceremonial occasions when not parading with troops.
In the field, the army's standard khaki uniform was worn by all Imperial Guard units from 1905 to 1945. Guard units were distinguished by a wreathed star in bronze worn on the headgear, in contrast to the plain five pointed star worn by other units.
| Imperial Guard Headquarters Kōgū-Keisatsu Honbu 皇宮警察本部 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | IGH |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | January 1, 1947 (as the Imperial Guard Bureau of the TMPD) |
| Preceding agency |
|
| Employees | 936 people (896 of them are palace guards)[2] |
| Annual budget | 8,366,559 thousandyen per year (FY 2018)[3] |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Japan |
| Specialist jurisdiction |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Overseen by | National Police Agency |
| Headquarters | Tokyo |
| Agency executives |
|
| Units | List
|
After the disbandment of the Imperial Guard divisions, their missions were merged into the Imperial Police (皇宮警察,Kōgū-Keisatsu), a civilian law enforcement branch of theMinistry of the Imperial Household. In 1947, it was reorganized into the Imperial Guard Bureau (皇宮警察部,Kōgū-Keisatsu-bu) of theTokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and then transferred to the National Rural Police (国家地方警察,Kokka Chihō Keisatsu Honbu). After being renamed several times, it became the Imperial Guard Headquarters (皇宮警察本部,Kōgū-Keisatsu Honbu) in 1949. With the total reconstruction of theJapanese police systems in 1954, it became a part of theNational Police Agency.
At present, it consists of over 900security police personnel who provide personal security for theEmperor,Crown Prince and other members of theImperial Family,[4] as well as protection of imperial properties, including theTokyo Imperial Palace,Kyoto Imperial Palace,Katsura Imperial Villa,Shugakuin Imperial Villa (both in Kyoto),Shosoin Imperial Repository inNara, as well asHayama Imperial Villa andNasu Imperial Villa.[5]
The Imperial Guard maintains a 14-horsemounted police unit for use byguards of honour at state ceremonies. In addition to their security duties, the Imperial Guard is responsible forfire-fighting within the grounds of the Palace, and maintainsfire engines and trained staff for this.
The NPA Imperial Guards wear a dark blue or a blue-grey police uniform with white gloves while on duty with peaked caps for public duties activities. They also wear white pistol belts, lanyards, helmets, boot laces or leggings. They carry police rank insignia in their shoulder boards.
The Imperial Guard stepped up their efforts to protect the Imperial Family after theassassination of Shinzo Abe in 2022.[6]
The Imperial Guard Police is responsible for ensuring the safety ofEmperor Naruhito,Empress Masako,Emperor Emeritus Akihito,Empress Emerita Michiko, and all members of the Imperial Family. The guards provide close personal protection, escorting, and protection, not only at the Imperial Palace and its residences, but also during the royal members travel both withinJapan and overseas.
In addition, to ensure the security of the Imperial Palace, the Akasaka Estate, various imperial villas, the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the Shōsōin Repository, and other facilities, security and guard operations are conducted mainly in the following one metropolis, one prefecture-level city, and four prefectures including:
When foreign dignitaries visit Japan asstate guests and enter the Imperial Palace, or when ambassadors enter the Imperial Palace for the presentation of credentials, the Imperial Guard Police provides escort duties. These escorts may include mounted units and large motorcycles with sidecars.
A unique feature of the Imperial Guard Police is that it is the only police force in Japan that also performs firefighting duties, carrying out both fire suppression in the event of an emergency and preventive measures to ensure fires do not occur. As a result, it operates fire engines known as “keibō-sha” (firefighting and disaster-response vehicles), which feature white bodies with red stripes. These vehicles are deployed at guard stations such as Sakashita, Fukiage, Akasaka, and Kyoto.
The organization also includes, The Imperial Guard Academy, which provides the necessary education and training for Imperial Guard officers, the Imperial Guard Police Band, and the Imperial Guard Police Special Security Unit.
In the fiscal year of 2009, the position of Director of the Administration Department was abolished, and the post of Deputy Director-General was established.
The authorized personnel strength of the Imperial Guard Police Headquarters is defined by the Regulations on the Authorized Strength of the National Police Agency. As of April 1, 2020, the organization consisted of 972 personnel, comprising 932 Imperial Guard officers and 40 administrative officers and other staff.
In 2021, the Imperial Guard Police appointed its first female Senior Superintendent.
Each year in late January, the Imperial Guard Police holds a New Year Ceremony at the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. The ceremony typically involves approximately 11 units and around 260 personnel, including motocycle units and mounted units. The ceremony was canceled in 2021, and 2022, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. On January 20, 2023, it was held for the first time in three years. This occasion marked the first time since the establishment of the Imperial Guard Police that both the Emperor and Empress attended the ceremony, since EmperorNaruhito last attendance in 1986.
In January 1947, the Imperial Guard Police was transferred from the Imperial Household Ministry to theHome Ministry and was renamed the Imperial Guard Police Department of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. At this time, the official title of personnel was changed from “Imperial Guard Police Officer” to “Imperial Guard Officer”, and close-protection duties (側近護衛) were transferred to theBoard of Chamberlains.
In March 1948, with the enforcement of the former Police Law, the organization was transferred to the National Rural Police Headquarters and was designated as the Imperial Guard Police Office (皇宮警察府, Kōgū Keisatsufu). At this point, responsibility for close-protection duties (側近護衛) was again assumed. In June of the same year, the organization was renamed the Imperial Guard Police Bureau (皇宮警察局, Kōgū Keisatsukyoku).
In December 1948, Imperial Guard officers (皇宮護衛官) were designated as Special Judicial Police Officers giving them the authority to conduct criminal investigations. In January 1949, the organization became the Imperial Guard Police Headquarters, an external bureau of the National Rural Police Headquarters.
In August 1951, the duty system of the Imperial Guard Police was changed to a work schedule of a three-shift duty system. In December 1952, the Imperial Guard Police Band was established. In June 1953, the Imperial Guard Police School was established.
In July 1954, with the enforcement of the current Police Law, the organization became the Imperial Guard Police Headquarters as an affiliated agency of theNational Police Agency.
In June 1960, the position of Jiei-kan (侍衛官; commander responsible for directing side-guard / close-protection operations) was established, and the Tokiwamatsu Guard Station was abolished.
In April 1973, a Security Department (護衛部) was established within the Imperial Guard Police Headquarters.
In December 1977, permanent protection was extended to Imperial Family members other than those of the Inner Court.
In August 1992, the duty system of the Imperial Guard Police was changed to a four-shift duty system.
On April 26, 2011, in theAftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which resulted from theTōhoku earthquake, that occurred on March 11 of the same year, a patrol unit named the “Imperial Guard Police Himawari Unit” (皇宮警察ひまわり隊; “Himawari” meaning “Sunflower”) was organized and dispatched to disaster-affected areas of the Tōhoku region. This marked the first instance of activity conducted outside the jurisdiction of the Imperial Guard Police in its history.
The organization of the Imperial Guard Police Headquarters consists of 2 departments and 10 divisions, 4 Guard Stations, and the Imperial Guard Academy. The duties of the Imperial Guard Police Headquarters are organized into three main divisions: the Protection Division, the Security Division, and the Police Administration Division.
The Protection Division is responsible for ensuring the personal safety of members of the Imperial Household, including the Emperor and Empress, the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita, and other members of the Imperial Family. Protection is provided not only while they are at the Imperial Palace or other imperial residences, but also during outings, attendance at ceremonies, and participation in various official events.
Imperial guard officers require not only advanced security capabilities, but also a wide range of abilities such ashorse riding,skiing,tennis,martial arts,archery,kendo, and the ability to communicate in foreign languages. These skills are developed through ongoing education, training, and drills. During visits by foreign heads of state or ambassadors to the Imperial Palace, protection is provided using mounted units and sidecars.
The Security Division and the Guard Stations are responsible for the security of the Imperial Palace, the Akasaka Estate, the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the Ōmiya and Sento Imperial Palaces, the Katsura and Shugakuin Imperial Villas, the Shōsōin Repository, imperial villas, and other related facilities. Their duties include planning and implementing security for events such as the Emperor’s Birthday and New Year general public audiences and garden parties, as well as deploying and maintaining security equipment and materials.
The Police Administration Division supports the operations of the Imperial Guard Police by managing duty schedules, recruitment, personnel administration, education, budgeting, and welfare, ensuring that the organization operates efficiently and effectively. Its staff coordinate the organization as a whole while also working to create a safe and practical environment for frontline officers.
Within the division, the Imperial Guard Police Band is responsible for performing at Imperial events such as garden parties, as well as at national police music concerts and lunchtime concerts in the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, contributing to the public-relations activities of the Imperial Guard Police.
The Special Security Unit, attached to the First Security Division, primarily handles ceremonial guard duties at the Imperial Palace main gate, during the entry of state guests, and at other official events. It is also responsible for rapid deployment in response to emergencies like security incidents, and possesses capabilities to respond to incidents involving firearms or other weapons. The unit serves as the core response team for incidents within the Imperial Palace and related facilities. From 2022, the unit’s capabilities were further strengthened by selecting personnel with specialized skills in explosives, firearms countermeasures, and counter-terrorism against weapons of mass destruction (NBC), enhancing both the structure and operational functions of the unit.
