Optics or
Research and5
THE POLICE IN THE JAPANESE HOME ISLANDS
Japanese police supervision over the lives of the Japanese people extends from the maintenance of public order and the prevention and detection of crime to the overseeing of commerce, education, religion, morals, health, and politics. The organization that wields these broad powerslosely centralized, national mechanism which Is entirely free, both politically and financially, from municipal control. Through the police the leaders ot Japan have been assured or the tractablUty of the Japanese population in the face of ever-increasing privation and danger. In the event of Allied occupation of the Home Islands, both the structure of the police organization and the Japanese people's habitual discipline may be great assets In the re-establishment of civil order.
Organization
There are two entirely separate police organizations in Japan, the civil police and the militaryhe civil police system ls supervised by the Bureau of Police Affairs in the Home Ministry. The Kempei organization Is under the administration of the Provost Marshal General in the Ministry of War. Although in the Home Islands the Kempei has jurisdiction primarily over military and naval personnel and Installations, the organization also possesses the power to take action In civil affairs. The Kempei and the civil police therefore work closely together on many occasions, and their relations In the prosecution of criminals are elaborately defined by law.
Authority in the civil police system runs from the Home Ministry to the prefectural governors to the chiefs of police. The functions of the Bureau of Police Affairs in the Ministry are policy making and administrative. The actual operation of the civil police Is managed by the prefectural governments In accord with the major policy decisions emanating from the Bureau. Close relations between the prefectures and the Home Ministry are assured by the fact that both the prefectural governors, who are ex-offlcio heads of the police within their prefectures, and the prefectural chiefs of police arc appointed by the Home Minister. All appointments to local positions are made by prefectural authorities except In the case of Tokyo, whichuperintendent-general directly responsible to the Home Ministry. Not only are there no municipal police systems in Japan, but even the funds for operating the civil police come directly from the national and prefectural treasuries, not from municipal funds. The prefectural. police systems, however, are administratively independent of each other, and in the event of uof national authority each could continue to operate by Itself.
CopyFOP RllLflSE
DATLIAM20I?
r
The personnel of the civil police must meet certain physical, moral, and educational requirements. After acceptance they are sent to the prefectural police ttaining schools where, prior to the wax, they received six months' training In police science, crime detection, law, fireand control, and physical fitness. Upon completion of this training all members of the regular police force begin as ordinary policemen. The degree of advancement from this position is dependent largely upon the previous education of the policeman. Those with elementary school educations are advanced slowly and cannot rise above the rank of chiefosition about midway in the hierarchy of tbe civil police. University graduates arc advanced more rapidly and may rise to the rank of chief superintendent. Chiefs of police are regularly career officials in the national government, and almost never come up from the ranks.
The pay of the civil police, even according to the low standards of the Japanese civil service, Is extremely poor. Although the low pay may be partially compensated by the dignity and importance of the policeman in Japan, the men attracted to the profession are generally mediocre in ability. The war has seriously reduced the number of available men, and has thereby lowered personnel standards even further.the number of duties undertaken by the civil police, the size of the police forces is not disproportionate to those In the United States. The police of the Tokyo prefecture,opulation of, numbered0he police of Metropolitan New York,omparable population, numbered0 in the same year.
Pouters and Functions
Because tbe Japanesereater emphasis upon public order than upon personal freedom, the delegation of extensive powers to the police hasogical development In Japan. The recourse of the individual from these broad powers is relatively slight. In addition to the detection and prevention of crime in the occidental sense, the civil police in Japan are charged with tbe maintenance of diverse controls ranging from health regulations to political supervision.
* The civil police have the power to hold all criminal suspects for long periods of time withoutpecific charge. In addition to their power to detain, the police have summary jurisdiction over certain minor offenses. Tbe police chief may sentence such an offender to detention In the police jail or mayine.
The civil police are primarily concerned with the prevention of crime. Through the licensing of taxlcabs, prostitution, pawn shops, and similar commercial enterprises and through their periodic inspections of all such licensed businesses, the police not only exert control over the businesses themselves but also secure valuable sources of information in maintaining order. Through their control of the Japanese system of
C0NK4TJENTIAL
neighborhood associations (In which the heads ol families are responsflBes to the heads of neighborhoods for the maintenance of order and discipline within their families, and the heads of neighborhoods are responsible to the police for the maintenance of discipline within theirthe police are usually assured of information In advance of the crime or prompt arrest following It
Outside the fields of the maintenance of order and the apprehension of criminals, the police concern themselves principally with theof special regulations and with political supervision. Inspecial regulations such as economic controls, banking laws, and health laws, the police assign specialists in these various fields who work under the supervision of the ministry concerned. The political activities of the police Include the supervision of social and laborand the detention of Individuals suspected of holding subversive ideas. This lutter activity is frequently described as "thoughthe police are also responsible for such political functions as theof the election laws and the censorship of printed material and public entertainments.
The methods employed by the civil police In carrying out their manifold duties Include the use of modern scientific equipment and third degree investigations. Fingerprint records, centralized criminal records, and separate police telephone and telegraph systems are common throughout Japan, and lie-detectors and police cruising cars are used in Tokyo Ordinary patrolling Is done by the policemen assigned to the police boxes which are situated In each locality throughout Japan. As many as three officers may be assigned to each box. Although third degree methods are not sanctioned officially and policemen proved guilty of them are subject to disciplinary action, their use Is fairly general.
Because the duties of the civil police touch upon every aspect of life In Japan, the Japanese people are In frequent contact with the police and feel their Influence in innumerable ways. As representatives ofauthority, the policeosition of considerable social importance in the community and act as arbiters In neighborhoodThe respect of the population also derives from the relative freedom of the police from graft and corruption.
The war has Inevitably brought about certain changes in police supervision In Japan The more obvious of these haseduction in the number of availableact which has necessitated both the curtailing of certain functions and the recruiting of women and boys for replacements. The police burden was increased when the manpower shortage made necessary the use of many criminals for labor service. Furthermore, the civil police have been assigned aportion of the task of organizing home defense and have been formed into police defense units. The war has also broughthange of emphasis In the type of crimes prosecuted. As the Japanese leaders have called upon the people for increased loyalty and spiritual
unity, the police have paid increased attention to "thought offenses" and to offenses against the economic control laws.
The police will undoubtedly be called upon to tighten theirover the Japanese people as the war becomes tacreasinglyto Japan. Its broad range of function makes the police system well suited forask. Furthermore, the structure of the police organization, with its central administrative control and prefectural operational control, would enable the continuance of police supervision within the prefectures even if communications had broken down. Finally, the habitual fear and respect of the Japanese people for their police willtrong factor in the control of disorder and panic both in the face of intensified Allied bombings and ultimate invasion of the Japanese Home Islands.
Original document.
Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: