I am trying to wrap up my essay on the history of TMPD, its role in
the development of modern kendo and the Seinan War (Satsuma
Rebellion)...then I find even more excellent comparative stuff with
the French police spy system (no surprise seeing how
Toshiyoshi/Toshinaga Kawaji and other important folks used the
French system as a model).
Seems many spies in the French Police system during the 2nd-3rd
empire were the most trusted and used as bodyguards for
the "emperor" as well...does this sound familiar?
Then I find this by using the word "kidotai" as a search...the
Japanese riot police had extensive experience with dealing with
massive student protestors (ofcourse we sympathize with the students
but from my research I have found the students to be *highly*
organized numbering in the THOUSANDS at times, and sophisticated in
their attacks to the point of dividing their troops into squads
(emulating police tactics)...many protestors are armed with
incendiary devices and primitive firearms they make themselves)
----------------------------
Bakumatsu shisetsu kidotai :
Shinsengumi to shotai no hikari to kage /
Fuyuji Domon
1994 Shohan.
Japanese Book 255 p. : ill. ; 15 cm.
Tokyo : KK Besuto Serazu, ; ISBN: 4584370176
----------------------------
*want to learn more about the Riot Police but don't want to spend
hours in the library like I did?
"Kaufmann, Arthur C. Tokyo--one city where crime doesn't pay! : a
study of the reasons for Tokyo's low urban crime rate and what can
be learned to help America's crime crisis."
[the data below is very dated from the late 70s but still gives a
very general idea of how the riot police function]
***very short and sweet***please read (^_^)
http://1happyturtle.com/modernpolice/police3.jpg
http://1happyturtle.com/modernpolice/police4.jpg
during my research I found interesting features of the MODERN
Japanese police which are all influences, whether philosophically or
in practice, directly descended from the Meiji Era model (Occupation
forces attempted to decentralized the police system and gave
patrolmen GUNS ::gasp:: ...as soon as they left the Japanese *re-
centralized it in many ways returning to the Meiji/Taisho model with
more democratic restrictions and monitoring)...even modern police
when talking to an American researcher still quote Kawaji (without
knowing it)...I found it to be humorous how one researcher would
write things like "samurai from a place called Satsuma made up 2/3
of the TMPD"...it is sad that researchers don't "push" further in
their research
even good old fashion Hojojutsu (which has a place in many old
martial arts lineages which go much farther than simply kenjutsu)
http://www.ds-arts.com/RopeArt/hojo_squaddie.html
*according to Dr. Kotaka was used extensively by historical Okita
Souji...[still] used by *modern* cops today
[I'm in the process of getting]
The development of the modern Japanese police system : transition
from Tokugawa to Meiji by Leavell, James Berry
**so excited just HAD TO share**
secretarytocapt3