Description

The Kempeitai , law soldiers, was the military police of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). The organization also shared civilian secret police that specialized in clandestine and covert operation, counterinsurgency, counterintelligence, HUMINT, interrogated suspects who might be allied soldiers, spies or members of a resistance movement, maintained security of prisoner of war camps, raided to capture high-value targets, and provided security at important government and military locations at risk of being sabotaged within Japan and its occupied territories. It was notorious for its brutality and role in suppressing dissent. The broad duties of the Kempeitai included maintaining military discipline, enforcing conscription laws, protecting vital military zones, and investigating crimes among soldiers. In occupied areas, it also issued travel permits, recruited labor, arrested resistance, requisitioned food and supplies, spread propaganda, and suppressed anti-Japanese sentiment. At its peak at the end of World War II, the Kempeitai had about 35,000 personnel.