AN ARMY of women in black with a decidedly special mission: to protect the First Lady Melania and the other dignitaries of the White House arriving in Japan. Pending the visit of Donald Trump , who on Sunday will touch Asian soil for the first time as president, Tokyo deploys a unit of totally female agents to protect women in its wake from potential protesters or criminals, but also from fans ready to challenge the safety cords.
First guest Ivanka Trump, who arrived yesterday in the Japanese capital and was welcomed by the bodyguards, who had already shown their defensive maneuvers in front of the Imperial Palace and on the streets of Tokyo. Techniques developed for the Summer Olympic Games, which the city will host in 2020 and in view of which the women’s-only team has been formed and is being trained. The video broadcast by the NHK television channel shows the preparations and simulations of the policewomen, dealing with potential fans and their attempts to approach and deliver gifts to guests arriving at the imperial residence. An appointment during which not to leave anything to chance, clothing included: for the agents “we opted for a look more cared for the occasion”, declared an official.

A reception that is not entirely unusual: Michelle Obama had already been received by a group of women responsible for her safety during her visit to Asia. A team whose main aim is to support the much more complex defense program developed by the American secret services, with a view to respect and non-intrusiveness towards the guests, helped in overcoming language barriers and access procedures upon their arrival. The spotlight is mainly on President Donald Trump, who will arrive in Japan on November 5 with his wife: for his visit the Tokyo government will deploy at least 18 thousand law enforcement agencies, the largest number of agents employed by the Land of the Rising Sun in last twenty years for the protection of a public figure.