From Law Enforcement to Limelight: Anju Tanaka’s Surprising Gravure Debut

I was given a police commission after coming in second in my class, and I felt like I was on top of the world!

―― How was your first full-fledged gravure photoshoot?

“It was quite nerve-wracking at first. But the staff were so kind and made me feel comfortable, so it ended up being enjoyable. The photographer taught me poses in detail, and wearing six different swimsuits to express myself was a thrilling experience. My self-esteem soared (laughs). I’ve always wanted to do gravure, so I’m very satisfied.”

―― Your background as a former police officer is quite unusual before becoming an actress.

“When I was attending university in Miyagi Prefecture and thinking about employment, my parents asked me to come back to our hometown in Yamagata Prefecture. I thought if I were to return home, I might as well become a civil servant, so I was pondering what job to take. At that time, I happened to be watching ‘Police 24 Hours’ on TV and thought, ‘I want to become a detective. Police officers are cool!’ So, becoming a police officer was my only choice.”

―― It must have been tough to become a police officer.

“In Yamagata Prefecture, which has one of the highest crime clearance rates in the country, the competition for Category I recruitment for college graduates is incredibly fierce, about ten times the number of positions available. So, I studied intensely every single day. Thankfully, I managed to pass the first-round exam. During the interview for the second round, they asked me various questions. I had been working part-time at a convenience store, and there were many difficult customers, including some who threw heated rice balls at me. So, I passionately appealed, ‘I can handle any situation calmly.’ When I received the notice of acceptance, I felt like I was on cloud nine (laughs).”

I was handcuffed for the first time when I was caught red-handed!

―― What memories do you have from police school?

“During the six months at the police academy, the first month was strict with no outside activities allowed. It was quite a shock. Since I wasn’t confident in my physical strength, every morning I voluntarily went running to improve my basic fitness. Any mistakes made were collectively responsible for, like having to endure a 20-kilometer run, which helped strengthen the bonds with my fellow trainees. Additionally, there was a ton of law to memorize in classroom lectures, such as the Constitution, Penal Code, Civil Code, and Police Act. I diligently focused on memorization, and although I didn’t manage to be the top student, achieving second place in the class gave me confidence.”

―― What happened after that?

“After three months of on-the-job training, followed by two months of probationary training at the police school, and then four months of practical training, I was finally assigned to the prefectural police regional division as a full-fledged police officer.”

―― That’s quite an extensive education! Being a police officer sounds tough. What are your impressions of working in the regional division?

“Once you put on the uniform, whether you’re a rookie or a veteran doesn’t matter. In patrol duty, receiving verbal abuse due to traffic violations, etc., is an everyday occurrence. But more than that, I found caring for the families of those who have passed away due to incidents or suicide to be challenging. No matter the situation, you mustn’t cry. We need to keep our hearts strong so that we can support others. Additionally, as a female police officer, I often deal with victims of sexual crimes. It’s difficult and painful to extract details from victims who have suffered deep emotional wounds. Experiencing my first ‘in-flagrante delicto arrest’ and putting handcuffs on someone at a specific time was an unforgettable experience.”