It's a practice that dates back to the early Meiji Era (1868-1912), when Japan set up its modern police system. But it's important to understand that the officers you've seen outside police ...

Mutsuhito took the title of Meiji, meaning enlightened ... In 1886 the newly formed Tokyo police department was seeking a hand-to-hand style with which to instruct their officers, and they decided ...

It assumes prior study of the transition from the Tokugawa (Edo) era to the Meiji era, including: Commodore Perry’s arrival and resulting treaty, 1853-1854. Unequal treaties of 1858 with the United ...