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Police bolster 'soft target' security for G-7 summit

21 Comments

The National Police Agency (NPA) on Tuesday bolstered security at so-called "soft targets" around the nation ahead of the two-day G-7 summit that starts in Ise-Shima, Mie Prefecture, on Thursday.

Police presence has been noticeably strengthened at major train stations, shopping complexes and other crowded places that are potentially vulnerable to terrorist attacks, Sankei Shimbun reported.

According to NPA chief Masahito Kanetaka, a total of 70,000 policemen will be dispatched to 3,500 locations across the country through Friday, including major stations, such as Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka and Nagoya.

The NPA has set up security observation stands at several areas in Tokyo, including Tokyo Station's Marunouchi exit and Tokyo International Forum in Hibiya.

“Attacks on soft targets can impact a massive number of people. It is important to increase security at busy stations, for example, and it is also crucial to cooperate with private businesses (to strengthen security). Residents’ safety is our priority,” Kanetaka said.

As part of the same initiative, the NPA also announced that it will enhance cyber-monitoring for information that could potentially relate to terrorism.

For the summit venue itself in Mie, the NPA will dispatch up to 23,000 police officers and another 4,600 to Hiroshima when U.S. President Barack Obama makes a historic visit there on Friday.

© Japan Today

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21 Comments
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Window dressing, plain and simple. If someone wants to detonate a bomb at a major station or gathering place, they will. What are they looking for from atop the little platform outside Tokyo Station? Someone "suspicious," or carrying a black ball with a fuse and "bomb" written on the side?

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Residents’ safety is our priority,” Kanetaka said.

He should be more honest and state in addition to this that the reputation of the entire institution of government in Japan is at stake here, it would be bad if there was an incident during a visit by the worlds most powerful leaders.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

So, this means all the foreigners can look forward to being stopped and having their bags and pockets searched to make it look like the cops are doing their job, when in actual fact, they are just harassing foreigners to justify their position. However, history shows that, all terrorists attacks in Japan have come from inside Japan, not from foreigners.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Make fun of them all you want. They increased their presence and don't interfere with our lives. Still much better than policing in other countries. Look how people are treated by police at G7 summits in Canada and the US, shamefully brutal and with disdain.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

While agree it is nice that they are not beating folks up and the like, must say I don't see an attack on a soft target in Japan as being very likely. But as Japan is safety country I guess they have to tell us all what a great effort they are making.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I was recently visiting a SDF base up north where they keep Patriot missiles. After showing my press ID they let me on base with a camera, mobile phone and a computer in my bag which was not checked.

Then unbelievably given directions to the section I was visiting and went there unaccompanied..

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Why didn't they just hold the G-7 summit at the Forum at Yurakucho here in Tokyo? Everything there is set up for holding such a conference. And they probably wouldn't need all those police watching everything, everywhere. Just concentrate their full attention on the Forum ... and put a tight security ring of police around that area. Sure would save a lot of money and effort. But then Abe & Co. want to "impress" the world leaders with what's awaiting them down there in Mie Prefecture ... and, of course, Hiroshima. And looking at all the write-ups about the summit, it seems as if Obama's trip to Hiroshima is what the summit is all about.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

There have been over the last week police patrolling all day at some stations along the Keio Inokashira line. I have no idea why, seems a little odd...some of these stations are small and irrelevant.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

tokyoclambake - I agree completely. However much of the public experiences "heiwa boke" which is basically being extremely under-vigilant.

The police presence is more just a govt tactic to make it look like the are actively preventing a non-existent threat from manifesting.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

It's a great excuse to wate money.

If nothing happens, it was "due to their diligence and planning." If there was a terror attack, it was "unavoidable"

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The NPA is over-doing it. Japan is safe because they have very strict immigration laws. There aren't many sleeper cells and not much radical islam activity.

There was a brawl last year in Tokyo -Turks vs some other muslims. No biggy.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The NPA is over-doing it. Japan is safe because they have very strict immigration laws.

Erm no, Japan is safe because it doesn't wander around the world intervening where it deems necessary.

There aren't many sleeper cells and not much radical islam activity

Oh, is that so? Exactly how many "sleeper cells" are there in Japan?..If you actually knew, they wouldn't be sleeper cells. Another baseless claim by the the fascist, radical right.

Turks vs some other muslims. No biggy.

Turks vs. Kurds. Kurds are an ethnic group comprised of numerous of religions, Christians and Jews included. Get your facts straight.

If nothing happens, it was "due to their diligence and planning." If there was a terror attack, it was "unavoidable"

This essentially describes antiterrorism efforts worldwide. Damned if you, damned if you don't. Although, alot of this all is just for sure, its rather appreciated, and far less invasive than policing in the west.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Japan is safe because it doesn't wander around the world intervening where it deems necessary.

Not anymore. But they've wandered into Korea, PI, Manchukuo and did awful things. Face it. Japan is in fact safe because they are being (and have been) protected by the "world police."

Oh, is that so? Exactly how many "sleeper cells" are there in Japan?

Don't know. But the last major incident was "home grown" sarin gas attacks. Islam had nothing to do with it.

Turks vs. Kurds. Kurds are an ethnic group comprised of numerous of religions, Christians and Jews included. Get your facts straight.

I said "other muslims" . . . sorry it's been a long day & all I can remember was that it was muslim on muslim violence.

and far less invasive than policing in the west.

Now ur talking. They need to invasive. Look at Brussels, paris, NYC and San Bernardino. Again, the NPA (Japan) is over-doing it.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Not anymore. But they've wandered into Korea, PI, Manchukuo and did awful things. Face it. Japan is in fact safe because they are being (and have been) protected by the "world police."

That was 75 years ago. Now, many hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Muslims peacefully live here snd 0 terror attacks. The problem is moronic foreign policy snd not Muslims.

Don't know.

And that is the point. no one knows if there are sleeper cells, so making claims like "there are few sleeper cells in Japan," only shows you are blowing smoke out your arse.

I said "other muslims" . . . sorry it's been a long day & all I can remember was that it was muslim on muslim violence.

Who cares about your long day? Not me. I go by what you said, and claiming it was Muslim vs. Muslim is bollocks. Again, you show your lack of knowledge.

Now ur talking. They need to invasive. Look at Brussels, paris, NYC and San Bernardino. Again, the NPA (Japan) is over-doing it.

Oh, so terrorist attacks mean we should be more invasive but not the 11k million murdered with guns? Terrorists are a problem, but the guns aren't? Get your head on straight.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

That was 75 years ago.

Still happened.

The problem is moronic foreign policy snd not Muslims.

That and when they emigrate from sharia law into western society.

I go by what you said, and claiming it was Muslim vs. Muslim

So there are no muslim Kurds?

Terrorists are a problem, but the guns aren't? Get your head on straight.

Who's talking about guns? Looks ur blowing the smoke. Yes terrorists all the problem . . . . look at all the armed cops patrolling the major JR stations.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Still happened.

Who gives a rip? 75 years ago. World has changed a bit since then.

That and when they emigrate from sharia law into western society.

The hundreds of thousands peacefully living here say otherwise.

So there are no muslim Kurds?

Listen, I no logik aint ur strong point, but ur gotter understand Kurd is not synonymous with Muslim. There was a fight between Turks and Kurds. 2 ethnic groups, bit different from muslim vs. muslim.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

World has changed a bit since then.

But not your constitution.

I no logik aint ur strong point

Certainly I am being logical. The NPA is overreacting big-time.

Last Halloween, I was partying in Shibuya. There thousands of police. For what? This is Japan. Halloween revelers are not rowdy. There were only 3 arrests over a 2 day period (Friday / Sat night.)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Last Halloween, I was partying in Shibuya. There thousands of police. For what? This is Japan. Halloween revelers are not rowdy. There were only 3 arrests over a 2 day period

You're basically making takeda.shingen's point. Did you never consider the good behavior might have been partly due to the police presence?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Japan is safe because they have very strict immigration laws.

Erm, I think you'll find that "terrorists" in Japan are actually Japanese. The Red Army, Aum Shinrikyo, Uyoku, Yakuza and so on. Not to mention all the random nutters with fruit knives.

As has been pointed out many times, the massive police prescence is to show that Japan takes security seriously (!) and to passively intimidate the locals.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

All those unmanned police boxes and stations means the crime ridden areas will be unprotected. I wish someone would properly prepare them on how to do security correctly. Standing at a station or shopping area is a waste of tax payers money. What will they do when the Olympics or World cup comes to Japan? Stand around then and wait like they are doing now.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Erm no, Japan is safe because it doesn't wander around the world intervening where it deems necessary."

Nor does Belgium. Oh, hang on.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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