In spite of the barrage of public criticism that Japan's scandal-plagued police have recently been the target of, they may have found an unexpected ally abroad: El Salvador.
Mauricio Sandoval, head of El Salvador's national civilian police agency, is presently in Japan to learn from his counterparts here methods of improving the efficiency of El Salvador's police and how to make them more friendly and trustworthy in the eyes of the citizens.
Since arriving in Tokyo last Monday, Sandoval has met with top Japanese police officials, including Setsuo Tanaka, chief of the National Police Agency. During his 10-day visit, until Thursday, Sandoval will visit the traffic control center and other Metropolitan Police Department facilities.