Japanese Police Bureau
Upholding the law in the wilds of Hokkaido.
The Japanese Police Bureau is a governmental law enforcement agency in Golden Kamuy, tasked with maintaining order and recovering assets in Hokkaido during the late Meiji period. Operating under the Japanese government, the bureau collaborates with the Hokkaido Prefectural Police to pursue criminals and secure valuable resources, often clashing with other factions in the series.
- Affiliation
- Japanese Government
- Era
- Late Meiji Period (circa 1907-1908)
- Region of Focus
- Hokkaido
- Primary Objective
- Law Enforcement and Asset Recovery
- Key Branch
- Hokkaido Prefectural Police
- Status
- Active throughout series
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The Japanese Police Bureau in Golden Kamuy operates as a rigid, hierarchical organization under the Meiji government's modernization efforts. Stationed primarily in Hokkaido, its officers enforce imperial law in the rugged frontier, often employing brutal methods to track down escaped convicts and recover stolen gold. The bureau's ranks include both seasoned detectives and corrupt officials, reflecting the era's tensions between tradition and progress. Their pursuit of Sugimoto and Asirpa's group highlights the bureau's relentless, sometimes ruthless, dedication to state authority.
In Their Own Story
When Shueisha became a joint owner of Viz in 2002, both Shogakukan and Shueisha began to release manga exclusively through Viz. Some exceptions to this exclusivity exist: Shueisha permitted DC Comics's subsidiary CMX Manga to license Tenjho Tenge and Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne, permitted Dark Horse Comics to license Gantz, Lady Snowblood, Shadow Lady, The Monkey King, and later Yasuhiro Nightow's Blood Blockade Battlefront and CLAMP's Gate 7. Shueisha also permitted Udon Entertainment to license The Rose of Versailles, Seven Seas Entertainment to license Hayate X Blade, and later permitted Seven Seas Entertainment to license To Love Ru, Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs and Super HxEros, and permitted Tokyopop to license Kodocha, Marmalade Boy, and Digimon Next and Manga Planet to license Silver Fang -The Shooting Star Gin- and allowed Kodansha USA to license the Battle Angel Alita manga in America. Shogakukan permitted Tokyopop to license Corrector Yui and Yumi Tsukirino's Stitch! manga, Seven Seas Entertainment to license Dai Dark, Orb: On the Movements of the Earth, Polar Bear Cafe, and the Himitsu Sentai Gorenger manga and Digital Manga to license The Amazing 3 manga by Osamu Tezuka, Udon Entertainment to license the Infini-T Force manga, the now-defunct ComicsOne to license Wounded Man - The White Haired Demon, permitted Dark Horse Comics to license Crying Freeman, New Lone Wolf and Cub, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and Mob Psycho 100, and permitted Hachette Book Group's subsidiary Yen Press to license Azumanga Daioh, Silver Spoon, Karakai Jōzu no Takagi-san, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU, and Cirque du Freak. In March 2010, Shogakukan began a partnership with Fantagraphics Books to issue a line of manga to be edited by Matt Thorn. In 2003, Japanese publisher Kodansha formed a co-venture with Del Rey.
Reader's Guide
In 2005, Viz Communications merged with ShoPro Entertainment, an American subsidiary of Shogakukan and was renamed to Viz Media. Horibuchi became the new company's chairman. During the same year, Horibuchi started a related division, Viz Pictures, for releasing selected live-action films in the US to theaters and DVD. On December 17, 2008, Viz Media announced that starting on April 1, 2009, Warner Home Video would be handling the distribution of both its new and existing catalog releases. On February 20, 2009, Viz Media laid off an unknown number of employees. On May 11, 2010, Viz Media again laid off 60 workers. On April 2, 2012, it was announced that senior vice-president and general manager Ken Sasaki would be succeeding executive producer Hidemi Fukuhara as president and CEO. In 2013, Viz began distributing titles to the Philippines. In 2014, it announced it would do the same in India with 75 Shueisha titles. On July 3, 2019, Viz Media partnered with Crunchyroll to distribute select Crunchyroll licensed titles on home video and electronic sell-through in the United States and Canada. In 2020, Viz Media saw a 70% growth in the U.S. market, in line with a 43% increase in overall manga sales in the United States the same year. On July 3, 2020, Funimation announced that they would begin streaming the original Naruto series on July 6. More content from Viz Media started to launch in their catalog such as Hunter × Hunter, Sailor Moon R: The Movie, and two Berserk films. On September 9, 2020, Funimation announced that they had reached a distribution partnership with Viz Media. On May 9, 2023, Viz Media launched a digital manga service called 'Viz Manga', featuring licenses from Shogakukan and Shueisha that are not published on the digital 'Shonen Jump' service, and has simultaneous English releases of ongoing manga. On July 5, 2024, Viz announced on their social media channels that they had acquired RWBY following the closure of its original parent company, Rooster Teeth.
Did You Know?
- The Japanese Police Bureau in Golden Kamuy is based on the real-life Hokkaido Prefectural Police, established during the Meiji era.
- The bureau's pursuit of the escaped convicts from Abashiri Prison drives much of the series' conflict.
- Unlike the idealized police of later periods, Meiji-era officers often used violence and intimidation to assert control.
- The bureau's involvement in the gold hunt reflects the government's interest in funding Japan's rapid industrialization.
- Several key characters in the series, like Tsurumi, have ties to the military police, blurring lines between army and civilian law enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who belongs to this group?
They are government law enforcement officers stationed in Hokkaido during the Taisho period. Their main branch operates as the Hokkaido Prefectural Police under direct state authority.
What do they want?
Their primary objective is recovering the hidden Ainu gold for the Japanese government rather than allowing it to be stolen by criminals or soldiers. This goal drives much of their conflict with other factions in the series.
Are they allies or enemies?
They function as a neutral third party that shifts between ally and enemy depending on who currently holds the map fragments. While they enforce the law, their methods often blur ethical lines when chasing the treasure.
Do they work with the Army?
The bureau frequently competes with the Imperial Japanese Army for control over the gold assets and intelligence. This rivalry creates tension as both factions vie for dominance within Hokkaido's political landscape.
What happens to them by the end?
They remain an active force throughout the story, continuing their pursuit of justice and state property even after major conflicts resolve. Their status persists as a governing body maintaining order in the region regardless of the treasure hunt's outcome.