Imperial Police Martial Arts Tournament Selection Ceremony Honors 140-Year Legacy

Tokyo — The Imperial Police Headquarters recently held a selection ceremony for its martial arts tournament representatives, marking a significant milestone in the force’s 140-year history. The event brought together 70 male and female officers chosen from five disciplines: judo, kendo, archery, arrest techniques and pistol shooting.

According to the ceremony proceedings, Superintendent Toshikatsu Nae, head of the Imperial Police Headquarters, addressed the selected athletes, emphasizing the honor and responsibility of representing the force. “We must be conscious of the honor and heavy responsibility, and exert our utmost efforts,” Nae stated, reflecting on the force’s establishment 140 years ago.

The selection process drew from the Imperial Police’s martial arts programs, which include judo, kendo, archery, arrest techniques (known as taihojutsu in Japanese policing contexts), and pistol shooting. These disciplines form the core of the force’s physical training and defensive tactics curriculum, blending traditional Japanese martial arts with modern law enforcement requirements.

Following the formal selection ceremony, attendees witnessed a demonstration of archery training, showcasing the precision and focus required in this discipline. The demonstration highlighted the continued importance of archery within the Imperial Police’s martial arts repertoire, a skill that has evolved from historical samurai practices to modern tactical applications.

The Imperial Police martial arts tradition traces its roots to the Meiji Restoration era, when the force was established to protect the Imperial Family and key government installations. Over the decades, the martial arts programs have adapted to changing security needs although preserving core principles of discipline, respect, and technical excellence.

Today, the Imperial Police continue to maintain rigorous training standards in these five disciplines, viewing martial arts not merely as physical training but as a means of cultivating mental fortitude, ethical judgment, and professional conduct essential for law enforcement duties. The selection ceremony serves both as recognition of individual excellence and as reinforcement of the force’s commitment to maintaining high standards in martial proficiency.

As the selected representatives prepare for upcoming tournaments, they carry forward a legacy that combines centuries-old martial traditions with contemporary policing requirements. Their participation in national and international martial arts competitions serves to showcase the unique role of martial arts within Japan’s law enforcement community.

The Imperial Police Headquarters has not announced specific dates for upcoming tournaments where these representatives will compete, but the selection ceremony marks the beginning of their preparation period for regional and national martial arts events.

For continued updates on the Imperial Police martial arts programs and tournament participation, interested parties can follow official announcements from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Imperial Guard Division.

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