The or known as the is the Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese close protection unit

Bodyguard

A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...

 mandated with the responsibility of protecting domestic and foreign VIPs in Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese soil and abroad. Its officers are known to have the SP insignia worn on their suit lapel and wearing red neckties and pocket handkerchiefs on their suits. Its structure has been greatly influenced by the United States Secret Service

United States Secret Service

The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...

.

The SP is under the control of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department

Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department serves as the police force for the entire Tokyo metropolis. Founded in 1874, it is headed by a superintendent general, who is appointed by the National Public Safety Commission and approved by the prime minister.The Metropolitan Police, with a staff of more...

.

History

After a stabbing attempt against then American ambassador Edwin Reischaur was foiled by police in Akasaka, Tokyo in 1964, the chairman of the National Public Safety Commission decided to resign. In 1965, the SP was established in response to protect VIPs in Japanese soil.

Prior to the unit's creation, anti-riot officers were used to conduct VIP protection duties.

Duties

SP officers are mandated to provide close protection duties for the following people:

1. Prime Minister of Japan
   Prime Minister of Japan
   The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
   
   , former and current
2. Ministers of State
3. President of the House of Councillors
4. Speaker of the House of Representatives
   House of Representatives of Japan
   The is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...
   
   
5. Governor
   Governor
   A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
   
    of Tokyo
   Tokyo
   , ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
   
   
6. Foreign VIPs such as heads of states, ambassadors, etc.

Organization

The SP structure consist of the following:

• Director
• Department Chief
• General Clerk
  • Section 1
    • Mobile Security Squad
  • Section 2
    • Mobile Security Squad
  • Section 3
    • Mobile Security Squad
  • Section 4
    • Mobile Security Squad

Section 1 is mandated to protect the Prime Minister of Japan

Prime Minister of Japan

The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...

, with Section 2 the presidents of the House of Councillors

House of Councillors

The is the upper house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the lower house. The House of Councillors is the successor to the pre-war House of Peers. If the two houses disagree on matters of the budget, treaties, or designation of the prime minister, the House of Representatives...

 and the House of Representatives

House of Representatives of Japan

The is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...

. Section 3 is known to conduct duties on guarding foreign VIPs such as ambassadors and heads of state with Section 4 the Governor

Governor

A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...

 of Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

 and ex-Japanese Prime Ministers

Prime Minister of Japan

The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...

.

Requirements

Potential SP candidates must serve in the police for a year with the rank of Sergeant in order to be qualified. Moreover, candidates are required to be more than 5.6 feet (173 cm) tall (for male candidates), achieve at least a third dan (rank) in martial arts; judo or kendo, and be superior in handling handguns to average police officers.

Items

Weapons

• GLOCK 17
• Heckler & Koch P2000
  Heckler & Koch P2000
  The Heckler & Koch P2000 is a German semi-automatic pistol introduced late in 2001 and intended primarily for law enforcement, paramilitary, and commercial markets. It is based around the technology involved in the USP Compact pistol...
  
  
• SIG P230
  SIG P230
  The SIG Sauer P230 is a small, semi-automatic handgun chambered in .32 ACP or .380 Auto. Beginning in 1996 it was replaced by the model P232.- Overview :...
  
  
• Smith & Wesson Model 37 revolver
• Expandable batons