Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-10-30
POLICEMEN OF JAPAN,
BOTH EDUCATION AND MUS
GLE DEMANDED.
With the Powers of a PoIies JUS
tiee They Arrest or Release Pris-

oners.
"The japanese police are nearly all of
the Samurai class. l think that force may
be considered the most perfect police in
the world" says Lafcadio Hearn, the well
known American writer, now resident
of Japan.
Some twenty years ago the Department
Of Police of Japan was modelled on the
French system and the result has been in
teresting. In the first place, the depart,
ment is independent of the municipal
governments of the japanese cities; in
each state or province it is under the con,
troll of the governor. The Kelsatsu- Blu, or
"police headquarters" of each province Is
in the capital city, while all of the cities
are provided with central office and as
many substitutions as are needed.
In case of fire tie police must act as
fremen.
Some of the qualifications that are de.
manded in candidate for appointment to
the force in Japan must seem extraordln-
ary to Americans. Each applicant for ap-
poinlment must write short essay in tho
classics, as well as in the modern japanese
writing. He must also be well read in tho
history of Japan, must understand its mu'
nicipal laws, must be fairly good arith-
metician, and-a sign of progress, indeed
must be able to converse and write either
in French or English!
The better result of tue mental qualiti-
cation of the police is proven by the fact
that the policeman can act as police JUS
tice on the spot, and is thus able to dis
pose of trivial offence without making
an unnecessary arrest.
The physical requirements in an appli.
cant are much simpler. He must possess
good health, be free from deformity. and
must be at least five feet two inches IN
height.
After passing satisfactory mental and
physical examinations, tire applicant be-
comes police fledging. He must now
spend six months at preparatory
school," where he is drilled in the science
of police work. While in this preparatory
department he is not policeman of full
grade, but remains sort of apprentice un-
i'll he completes the whole course Of study.
Most important of all his training now Is
"taiiitsu," which is the Japanese name lot
physical culture. 1t includes the art OF
wrestling, which, as the japanese practice
it, is q secret known only to the Samural
class. BY the aid Of this art, the athlete
can fight Extensively or defensively with.
out weapons, and can restore the uncon-
scious without the aid OF spirits or oil
medicines.
The 'taijitsu" or art of "breaking mus
cles." as it is sometimes called, does moi
the least resemble American boxing. by
its aid man who weighs 1870 pounds is
able to throw man twice his weight.
Before the japanese government decided
to adopt the taijitsu, OF "art of breaking
muscles" 12S pound professor of the art
gave a public contest with heavy and
muscular six footer whom he vanqulshed
with ease. The victor was only 8 feet A
inches in height, while the wrestler whom
he overpowered was more than SIX feel
tail and weighed over 250pounds. and his
great size moreover was not due to fat, ,bul
to the development of solid muscle. Ii
was like "a fight between an elephant and s
lion, and the lion won. In less than a
minute the big fellow was thrown to the
floor, where he lay senseless unit! restored
by the aid of the same ''art OF breaking
muscles" Since then the science OF tai
iitsu has been highly cultivated, not only
by the police, but also by college and
school students, as in it are contained all
branches of physical culture.
The japanese policeman was first
equipped with heavy club about four
feet long and one inch and half in diam
eter. Afterward this weapon was aban-
doned for cavalry sword, for the reason
that the great majority of the policemen
were drawn from the Samura class, who
were accustomed to the use of swords. a
few years ago policemen were equipped
with revolvers and short clubs, which
weapons they now carry.
The Japanese policeman does not hand
cuff his captive. He is provided with
small, but strong, cord, about six feet long,
with which he ties the offenders arms,
compelling him, after being tied, to pre-
cede him.
AS the police force is drawn chiefly
from the Samurai class, who love neither
money nor favoritism, but honor and coun-
try. there is no such thing as bribery.
In the Department of Police there are
many bureaus, namely, political, news
paper, censorship, public meeting, festival
amusement, etc.
The system of secret police, or detec'
tives, is also very perfect, and the move
ment of all criminals of more or less de-
gree are minutely traced and recorded al
the Japanese "Rogues' Gallery"
The uniform of japanese policeman Is
in design much like that worn by ~
train guards in New York City. In win
ter it is black, in summer it is white.