PW_3_2025

Professional Development

IPA Japan Friendship Week By Liz Barker , Jane Hammond and Steve Chalmers In March 2025, six IPA UK members travelled to the International Police Association (IPA), Section Japan Friendship week. T hey were Liz Barker, Dave and Jane (Doyle) Hammond from London Met Branch and also Steve and Catherine Chalmers with their son Morgan from IPA Kent Branch. Steve is Chair of 11 Region and Secretary for Kent Branch. Each of us made plans to explore Japan either before, after or travel onwards in Asia. Liz writes: Arriving a week early, travelling solo, I was lucky to be met at Tokyo Haneda airport by IPA Japan member, Toru, a retired Tokyo Police Chief. For my first two days Toru guided me through parts of central and north Tokyo. As we walked around his favourite temple (near to his former Police District) we found lots in common on our policing journey. We ended the first day visiting a bookshop where a group meet to practise spoken English. The group organiser kindly brought a kimono for me to try and I was invited to stay with them for birthday cake when Toru had to leave to attend his own retirement party from a motor company. On day two we were joined by another retired officer, Megumi from Kanagawa district, south-east of Tokyo. Meg had worked in road safety education and compulsory driving improvement courses for ‘naughty’ drivers. After a long walk through Ueno market and park, they took me to a Japanese pub for beer and appetisers of raw prawn, tuna sashimi (raw slices) and edamame beans. Toru introduced me to Chu-hai, a barley grain alcohol mixed with soda water and touch of lemon syrup. It became my ‘go to’ refreshing drink instead of beer. The real value in meeting Japanese IPA colleagues was not only seeing places where tourists don’t go, but learning of things we have in common. Both Toru and I had started a degree at college, realised it wasn’t for us, left our home towns due to lack of opportunity and became police officers in busy metropolitan areas by chance, rather than by design. Meg and I both enjoy our retirement - throwing ourselves into hobbies and learning new things. She is travelling to the UK later this year with a friend and I am pleased to assist her make plans. I was grateful for an insight into life in Tokyo: students celebrating graduation dressed in kimono, having photo calls in front of places of architectural interest and the few cherry blossom trees in bloom; afternoon treats of strawberry cream cakes at £15 a slice, and how to use the self-serve tills in the combini (24/7 stores) which were a life saver for my solo travel days. Toru’s kind offer to spend two days with me helped a great deal as I gained so much knowledge of how to meet and greet; make a prayer at temples; order food in the self-service restaurants and how to navigate the subway system. It was great to meet so many Japanese IPA members supporting our visits and gala evenings. They must have rehearsed timings and responsibilities for each location and teams of IPA helpers in yellow gilets. We were honoured to have been made to feel so welcome and given so much from the membership, who worked so hard to show us their martial arts skills, music and taste exquisite Japanese food.

Dave, Liz, Jane, Steve, Catherine and Morgan

Mrs Suzuki kindly brought a kimono for me to try on - an unexpected treat

Toru, Liz and Megumi walking through Ueno market - a fascinating place to taste Japanese food delicacies and buy brightly boxed sweets made from unusual ingredients such as sweet potato (they were nice!)

POLICE WORLD Vol 70 No.3, 2025

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