Imperial Guard (Japan)


The Imperial Guard of Japan has been two separate organizations dedicated to the protection of the Emperor of Japan and the Imperial Family, palaces and other imperial properties. The first was the Imperial guard divisions, a quasi-independent elite branch of the Imperial Japanese Army, which was dissolved shortly after World War II. The current organization is the Imperial Guard Headquarters, a civilian law enforcement organization that is part of the National Police Agency.

Imperial Guard of the Imperial Japanese Army

The Imperial Guard of the Imperial Japanese Army was formed in 1867. It became the foundation of the Imperial Japanese Army after the Emperor Meiji assumed all the powers of state during the Meiji Restoration. The Imperial Guard, which consisted of 12,000 men organized and trained along French military lines, first saw action in the Satsuma Rebellion. It was organized into the 1st 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 in Tokyo and was recruited on national lines; officers were also drawn nationally.
After the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, a second Guard Brigade was formed from indigenous 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 overall order of battle of the force. From 1937 to 1939 the Guards Engineer Battalion was expanded into a regiment as was the Guards Transport Battalion.

Pacific War

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 to South China. Here it became known as the Mixed Guards Brigade. In October 1940, it joined other Japanese units occupying French 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 to Shanghai before being posted to Hainan 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 the Battles of Malaya and Singapore with Tomoyuki Yamashita's 25th Army.
In May 1943, all designated Imperial Guard units were renamed again. The Mixed Guards Brigade in Tokyo became the 1st Guards Division and the Imperial Guard Division became the 2nd Guards Division. The 3rd 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 of World War II.

War crimes

In Japanese-occupied Malaya and Singapore, the Guard Division was involved in several notorious war crimes such as the Parit Sulong Massacre and the Sook 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.

Organization

  • 1st Guards Division
  • 2nd Guards Division
  • 3rd Guards Division

    Uniform

Until 1939, the Cavalry of the Imperial Guard wore a French-style parade uniform consisting of a dark-blue tunic with red Brandenburg braiding, a red kepi and red breeches. The red kepi had a white plume with a red base. Prior to the general adoption of khaki by the Japanese Army during the Russo-Japanese War, an all-white linen uniform had been worn in hot weather.
The Infantry of the Imperial Guard wore a dark blue uniform with white leggings 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. Officers wore a dark blue tunic with 5 rows of black mohair froggings 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 of the National Police Agency

After the disbandment of the Imperial Guard divisions, their missions were merged into the Imperial Police, a civilian law enforcement branch of the Ministry of the Imperial Household. In 1947, it was reorganized into the Imperial Guard Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, and then transferred to the National Rural Police. After being renamed several times, it became the Imperial Guard Headquarters in 1949. With the total reconstruction of the Japanese police systems in 1954, it became a part of the National Police Agency.
At present, it consists of over 900 security police personnel who provide personal security for the Emperor, Crown Prince and other members of the Imperial Family, as well as protection of imperial properties, including the Tokyo Imperial Palace, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Katsura Imperial Villa, Shugakuin Imperial Villa, Shosoin Imperial Repository in Nara, as well as Hayama Imperial Villa and Nasu Imperial Villa.
The Imperial Guard maintains a 14-horse mounted police unit for use by guards of honour at state ceremonies. In addition to their security duties, the Imperial Guard is responsible for fire-fighting within the grounds of the Palace, and maintains fire 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 the assassination of Shinzo Abe in 2022.

Overview

The Imperial Guard Police is responsible for ensuring the safety of Emperor 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 within Japan 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:
  • Tokyo
  • *Tokyo Imperial Palace
  • *Akasaka Estate
  • *Tokiwamatsu Imperial Villa
  • *Takanawa Imperial Residence
  • Tochigi Prefecture
  • *Nasu Imperial Villa
  • *Imperial Ranch
  • Kanagawa Prefecture
  • *Hayama Imperial Villa
  • Shizuoka Prefecture
  • *Suzaki Imperial Villa
  • Kyoto Prefecture
  • *Kyoto Imperial Palace
  • *Ōmiya Palace
  • *Sento Imperial Palace
  • *Katsura Imperial Villa
  • *Shugakuin Imperial Villa
  • Nara Prefecture
  • *Shōsōin Repository
When foreign dignitaries visit Japan as state 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”, 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 the COVID-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 Emperor Naruhito last attendance in 1986.