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THE IMPERIAL GUARD OF THE ARMY The Imperial Guard of Japan was formed in 1867 from palace guard units and became part of the Imperial Japanese Army when the Emperor Meiji assumed all the powers of the state and formed an army based on European lines during the Meiji Restoration . It saw action in the Satsuma Rebellion . This army consisted of 12,000 men originally organized and trained along French lines, but was retrained and organized by German officers after the German victory in the Franco-Prussian War . By 1885 the Imperial Japanese Army consisted of seven divisions, one of which was the Imperial Guard , with each division consisted of four regiments of two battalions each. The Imperial Guard was based on the Prussia n Garde Du Korps so it recruited nationally for duty in Tokyo . It stayed at one division until 1905 when, after the Russo-Japanese War, two Guard Brigades were formed from Formosans. Formosa , was known, even then, as a place of Headhunters . Japan had defeated these headhunters after bloody fighting on both sides. The Guard stayed at one division until World War II when a total force of three divisions was realized. Two (2nd and 3rd) of the Guard divisions saw combat in China and Manchuria while one (the 1st) was always stationed in Tokyo . The IJA Imperial Guard was dissolved at the end of World War II and was reformed in 1947 as part of the National Police Agency , which itself is part of the National Public Safety Commission . The Imperial Guard in the Second World War In September 1939, the division split. The 1st Guards Brigade was transferred to South China and became known as the Guards Mixed Brigade. It took with it the 1st and 2nd Guards Infantry Regiments, the cavalry regiment, and about half of the support units. In October 1940, it joined other Japanese units occupying French Indo-China. In April 1941 it returned to Tokyo, but did not re-join the division. The remainder of the division (3rd and 4th Guards Regiments) became the 2nd Guards Brigade. In 1940 it went to China as well, stopping in Shanghai before receiving a posting to Hainan Island. In June 1941, the 5th Guards Infantry Regiment joined it there and the brigade became the Imperial Guard Division again. It later saw action in the Battles Of Malaya and Singapore with Tomoyuki Yamashita 's 25th Army. The Guards Mixed Brigade remained in Tokyo, becoming 1st Guards Division in May 1943 while the Imperial Guard Division became 2nd Guards Division. The 1st Guards Division consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th Guards Regiments. The 3rd Guards Division was formed in 1944 from the 8th, 9th and 10th Guards Regiments and stayed in Japan. Guards Uniforms The Guard wore a French style uniform constisting of a dark-blue double breasted Tunic with a red Kepi and red Breeches . The red kepi had a white Plume with a red base. Off duty, a dark blue tunic with 5 rows of black mohair ropings or froggings with dark blue breeches with a red stripe down each seam, were worn. During the summer an all white Linen uniform was worn. In the field the army's basic uniform was worn. It was worn with either a Crysanthemum or a star in a wreath. NATIONAL POLICE AGENCY IMPERIAL GUARD The Imperial Guard was reconstituted as part of the National Police Agency of Japan in 1947. It consists of over 900 Security Police personnel who provide security and protection to the Emperor and Imperial Palace , and also provides guards of honour at state ceremonies. The Imperial Guard maintains three departments: IG Police Administration, IG Security, and IG Escort. The IG also maintains a 14 horse IG Mounted Unit. SEE ALSO |
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