How would I address a Japanese police inspector?

March 10, 2020 3:10 PM

I'm writing a story set in Japan, and I'm looking for the appropriate honorific to use when addressing a police inspector or chief inspector using their name and rank.

What would be the police equivalent of, say, addressing a JSDF first lieutenant as [Family Name]-nii (or -chui in the pre-'45 system)? As well, how would you address them if you were just using rank alone?

If you need more specifics, this would be Tokyo Metropolitan Police, Shinjuku ward.

posted by TheWhiteSkull to Writing & Language (2 answers total)

Best answer: Chief Inspector: 警部 (keibu), inspector: 警部補 (keibuho). This comes from an official list of police ranks in Japanese and English, and also accords with what I've seen in Japanese murder mysteries. If the (chief) inspector's family name is Tanaka, it would be "Tanaka-keibu" with the name or just "keibu" without it.
Other anecdata that you may already be familiar with: I doubt that most members of the public would be able to use these ranks off the top of their heads; maybe if the inspector in question had specifically introduced themself using it. A lot of people might fall back on "keiji-san" (刑事さん, Detective) or even "o-mawari-san" (おまわりさん, the civilian's word for a beat cop). A junior police officer would address them by rank, probably not with the name unless they were being very formal or there were multiple inspectors in the vicinity; a more senior police officer might address them by name and rank or maybe with name and -kun alone.
posted by huimangm at 7:19 PM on March 10, 2020 [3 favorites]

Late to the party, but I wanted to give credit to what the user above me posted. Can ask Japanese friends later if more info/credibility is required.
posted by LoonyLovegood at 6:22 AM on March 11, 2020 [1 favorite]