Groundbreakers | The Only Woman in Tokyo's Special Rescue Team

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Japanese women are making a meaningful impact around the world. If they were ever invisible, certainly they are not now. What inspired them to step forward into their roles today? This time, JAPAN Forward set out to feature Akane Mori, the only woman in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's Special Rescue Team, for our series "Groundbreakers."

In the wake of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department established the Special Rescue Team. It is the first unit in Japanese police history dedicated exclusively to rescue and relief operations. Among its members today is a young trailblazer: the only female officer on the team.

Senior Police Officer Akane Mori, 30, joined the Special Rescue Team in 2023 after gaining experience in the riot police and other units. Now, she responds to mountain accidents and other emergencies. She trains rigorously every day with the goal of becoming a specialist in life-saving operations.

On the Front Lines

At the Tokyo Metropolitan Police's East Japan Disaster Security Training Facility in Tachikawa City, Sergeant Mori participated in a landslide rescue drill. Gently speaking to a mock casualty trapped beneath wooden debris, she calmly assessed the situation.

"Hang in there. You'll be out soon," she said, as she evaluated the risk of crush syndrome — a potentially fatal condition caused by toxins entering the bloodstream when pressure is suddenly released. Mori attached an automated external defibrillator (AED) to monitor the casualty's vital signs and prepared for immediate CPR. Only then did she carefully remove the debris and place the individual on a stretcher for evacuation.

Mori's path to the Special Rescue Team began with a moment that changed many lives: the Great East Japan Earthquake. As a high school freshman, she watched news footage of police officers rescuing earthquake victims by helicopter. "I remember thinking, 'I want to be out there too, helping as part of the team,'" she recalls.

Determined to make that vision a reality, she pursued a paramedic license while in university. She learned life-saving techniques and how to treat injuries and illness — skills that would set her apart in a competitive field.

Strength and Compassion

Mori is currently the only woman among roughly 30 team members. At around 155 cm (5.08 ft) tall, she's notably smaller than her male colleagues. But she sees her presence as an asset, not a limitation. Her calm, gentle demeanor helps soothe victims in high-stress situations. She also places great importance on communication, especially during training.

To keep pace with the physical demands of the job, she trains hard every day, even on her days off. She has played soccer since elementary school and continues playing on a coed team to build stamina and maintain fitness. Off the field, she enjoys baking as a way to unwind.

"The work is physically and mentally tough, but that's exactly why it's worth doing. In a disaster, you get to be a source of strength for someone who needs help," she says. "If someone out there dreams of joining, I hope they never give up."

*Senior Police Officer Mori works on building stamina through soccer.*

The Team Behind the Mission

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police's Special Rescue Team was launched on September 1, 2012, under the Disaster Response Division. Members are licensed to operate heavy machinery, boats, and other equipment. They undergo constant training to handle a broad range of emergencies, from natural disasters to mountain and water rescues.

The team has responded not only in Tokyo but across Japan. Their missions include the 2014 Mount Ontake eruption, the 2018 Western Japan floods, and the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. Internationally, they contributed to the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake response as part of Japan's emergency aid team.

*Senior Police Officer Akane Mori of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Special Rescue Team descends using a rope from the training tower. May 2025, Tachikawa City, Tokyo. (©Sankei by Yuko Ogata)*

Toward a More Inclusive Future

Since 2018, the team has also welcomed trainees from police departments nationwide. About 40 officers have taken part so far, building connections across regions and sharing techniques. "It's become a platform for cooperation beyond regional borders," says team leader Kenji Sugawara, 50.

Efforts to promote gender diversity in the police force are gaining momentum. According to the 2024 Police White Paper, 1,810 women were newly hired in 2023, making up 24.7% of new recruits. The proportion of female officers in prefectural forces has grown from 8.1% in 2015 to 11.7% in 2024.

Leadership representation is also improving. In 2015, just 349 women held the rank of inspector or higher. As of 2024, that number has more than doubled to 861.

Sergeant Mori is a symbol of this progress — proof that with skill, determination, and heart, barriers can be broken and more lives can be saved.