Expert Bodyguard Reveals Biggest Adversaries Encountered So Far From Overseas Royalty to World-Class Athletes
The job of a bodyguard is to keep high-profile individuals away from danger.
In Japan, where crime is relatively low, the profession of executive protection (bodyguard) is not widely heard of. Among them, the International Bodyguard Association (AICPO), headquartered in the UK, is a professional organization for executive protection. Mr. Hideto Osanai, deputy chief of the International Bodyguard Association and representative of its Japan branch, holds a national qualification as a bodyguard in the UK and has trained in the United States, Israel, and EU countries as a professional bodyguard. Currently, he runs a security company specializing in executive protection mainly in Japan. His security experience spans a wide range, from foreign government officials and foreign royal families to overseas artists, famous athletes, and even prominent global corporate figures and religious leaders.
“Many may think that VIP protection in Japan is handled by police Special Police (SP), but SP only guards those designated by the National Police Agency Chief. Therefore, even foreign dignitaries of VIP class who visit for private reasons, not official duties, aren’t designated for police protection, often leading to requests for private security companies. Hence, private security firms handle far more protection assignments than the police.”
In Japan, there are two patterns for requesting private bodyguard services:
- When companies hosting events, hotels, or event organizers invite dignitaries.
- When the dignitaries themselves or their associates make the request.
Legally, bodyguards fall under the category of private security companies. In Japan, security services primarily involve securing venues like concert halls, crowd control, cash transport, traffic management, and facility security. Alongside these, there is a category known as personal security, which encompasses the role of bodyguards. Private security companies in Japan are not permitted to carry firearms. How then do they provide security without firearms?
“During protection assignments, there are generally no situations where firearms are actually drawn. In the world of VIP protection, drawing a firearm usually signifies a failure in preventing a crisis beforehand. It implies that preventive measures to avert danger have failed, necessitating the use of firearms. Even in the U.S. Secret Service, which protects the President, only the closest guards carry handguns, yet they rarely draw them. For instance, during the assassination attempt on President Reagan in March 1981, Secret Service agents swiftly displayed handguns and submachine guns, but did not fire any shots.”
In VIP protection services, it’s not uncommon to have multiple individuals under protection. For instance, we may be tasked with securing world-renowned sports teams where several members need simultaneous protection.
“Before devising a security plan, our first step is to clearly define who and what we are protecting. We then assess potential risks that could affect these individuals. Essentially, after determining what needs protection, we consider what threats to safeguard against, and then formulate a security plan accordingly. During their stay in Japan, we carefully evaluate potential risks specific to each protected individual. Thus, adequate time is crucial for preparing security measures. For example, when we provided protection for a famous top-tier soccer player during their week-long stay in Japan, our team spent approximately three months preparing for the assignment.”
Among players, some may want to go shopping or sightseeing in crowded areas like Harajuku. What measures are taken when a security target goes into such crowds? It is said that risk assessment is conducted meticulously in advance.
“In cases where security targets go to crowded places, all actions are based on threat assessments. The most important thing we focus on in threat assessments is the possibility of realistic dangers occurring.
For example, when a famous soccer player goes shopping on Takeshita Street in Harajuku, it often causes a commotion. People making a fuss when encountering a famous person are more often out of favor than a threat. Apart from this favor, we analyze how likely it is for someone intending to attack the player to actually be present at the scene, and realistically assess the possibility of someone wielding a knife in such places.”
