Police dogs will used to beef up security at the Imperial Palace for the first time, the Imperial Guard Headquarters said Friday.
Two male German shepherds, aged 2 and 1, will be used to investigate suspicious objects and carry out other tasks.
A ceremony was held Friday to mark the opening of a kennel, with the dogs being trained before the media.
The dogs have just graduated from a training center and belong to the Second Security Section of the headquarters' Security Department. They will undergo some more training before starting their duties.
The Imperial Guard Headquarters guards the royal family, the Imperial Palace and other Imperial properties.
The Suzaki Imperial Villa in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture, has three police dogs.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.