"Police Officers Are a Profession Seen by People"…Japan Introduces Makeup Classes

Fukushima Police Academy Introduces Makeup Course
Professional Instructors from Shiseido Teach Makeup Skills
"Proper Appearance Matters" vs "Unrelated to Police Duties"

A police academy in Japan has attracted attention for inviting a professional beauty consultant to teach makeup to its students. The Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 20th that "last month, a police academy in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, conducted a makeup course for 60 male and female police cadets about to graduate."

Japanese police cadets receiving makeup lessons. Photo by Fukushima Chuo TV

This makeup course was conducted in collaboration with experts from the famous Japanese cosmetics brand Shiseido. The experts provided not only makeup techniques but also personalized advice to the students. They explained basic makeup skills such as skin moisturizing methods, how to use primer (a lotion or cream that corrects skin texture and extends makeup wear time), and eyebrow drawing, as well as techniques like eyebrow grooming and hairstyling.

Photos released show male cadets unfamiliar with makeup following the provided manuals, applying mask packs, and looking into mirrors to draw their eyebrows, making efforts to keep up with the course. Although initially somewhat confused, the class proceeded smoothly under the instructor’s explanations and guidance. Male police cadet Kuwabara Yusei said, "I have never worn makeup before. Still, I think being a police officer is a profession that is seen by people, so I will definitely wear makeup and stand in front of citizens."

The reason for introducing this course is to leave a positive impression and gain trust from citizens after graduation. It is important to maintain a neat appearance while interacting with various members of the local community. Takeshi Sugiura, the vice principal of the academy, told Japan’s Nippon TV, "It is important for students to maintain a proper appearance as members of society and future police officers."

In Japan, not only Fukushima but also the Yamaguchi Police Academy is reportedly implementing similar makeup programs. This change has been positively evaluated as a modernization of the education system in Japanese police academies, which have traditionally focused mainly on law and physical training, to facilitate smooth interaction with local communities. On the other hand, there has been criticism that makeup skills are unrelated to the core duties of police work and could become another standard for performance evaluation.