during escort duty at the
34th G8 summit in
Tōyako, Hokkaidō To become part of the SP unit is a rigorous process, it is a mandatory requirement that the individual be a police officer with a number of years of experience, who satisfies conditions, such as being a minimum of 173 cm (5’8). Holding a minimum 3rd
dan rank or higher in the arts of
judo,
kendo, and
aikido, possessing advanced marksmanship, and being capable of conversational
English, among other criteria. Applicants also require receiving recommendations, from their superiors or department heads. After meeting these requirements, applicants become candidates and undergo three months of special training at police academies or other facilities. The selection course is said to be challenging and competitive, having a high attrition rate, with only a select few who pass and are appointed as SPs. At the
Prime Minister's Official Residence, police officers who specialize in security (the Prime Minister's Official Residence Security Unit) are assigned; however, they are responsible solely for guarding the facility itself, which is completely different from the close personal protection carried out by SPs. The division responsible for protecting the Prime Minister as SPs, known as the First Protection Section, and the Prime Minister's Official Residence Security Unit both belong to the Protection Division, Security Department of the Metropolitan Police Department, and personnel exchanges occur between them. As a result, there are cases in which SPs are selected from among members of the Official Residence Security Unit. SPs are required to possess skilled arrest and self-defense techniques, and shooting proficiency (specifically, the ability to hit a 10-centimeter-diameter target at a distance of 25 meters, firing a handgun with at least 5 shots within 10 seconds—generally, Japanese police handguns are 9mm caliber with 6 rounds, meaning all rounds must hit the target within the time limit). In addition, they are vetted to must have strong physical and mental strength, constantly maintaining
hypervigilance in order to detect suspicious individuals before they do. They are also expected to demonstrate patrol car driving techniques, cooperativeness with colleagues, self-restraint, self-management ability, a strong spirit of legal compliance, and proper etiquette when dealing with VIPs. Furthermore, if placed in an extreme situation, they must be prepared to launch themselves bodily into the path of a weapon or gun barrel wielded by a perpetrator, essentially becoming a human shield. In other words, the profession demands a spirit of self-sacrifice. For this reason, among police officers, only those who meet these stringent conditions are appointed as SPs. Female police officers can also qualify to join the division if they meet the standards. ==Equipment==