Public Security Intelligence Agency

Infobox Government agency
agency_name = Public Security Intelligence Agency
nativename =
nativename_a = 公安調査庁
nativename_r = kōanchōsa-chō
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formed = July 21, 1952
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dissolved =
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jurisdiction = Government of Japan
headquarters = Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
employees = 4,000 officers [ [http://www.nids.go.jp/english/dissemination/briefing/2006/pdf/100.pdf The National Institute for Defense Studies News, May 2006.] Retrieved on June 10, 2008.]
budget = 15,099,256,683 Yen (As of 2006)
minister1_name = Kunio Hatoyama
minister1_pfo = Japanese Minister of Justice
minister2_name = Katsuyaki Kawai
minister2_pfo = Vice-Minister of Justice
chief1_name = Toshiro Yanagi
chief1_position = Director-General
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parent_agency = Japanese Ministry of Justice
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website = [http://www.moj.go.jp/KOUAN/ Official Site] ja icon
footnotes =The nihongo|Public Security Intelligence Agency |公安調査庁|kōanchōsa-chō is an agency administered by the Ministry of Justice in the government of Japan, and is an organization that conducts espionage on threats to Japanese national security based on Subversive Activities Prevention Act [http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/japan/koancho.htm Public Security Investigation Agency.] Retrieved on January 5, 2008.] [http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/PSIA/index.html HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, Official PSIA Webpage.] Retrieved on January 5, 2008.] .

As the national agency with the role to collect intelligence information, PSIA contributes to Japanese government policy by providing relevant organizations with necessary foreign and domestic data (collected through investigations and intelligence activities) on subversive organizations. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/japan/koancho.htm Public Security Investigation Agency.] Retrieved on January 5, 2008.] It's also known that the PSIA is responsible for conducting surveillance and intelligence-related work on Zainichi Koreans on Japanese soil [http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/japan/koancho.htm Public Security Investigation Agency.] Retrieved on January 5, 2008.] . It conducts its operations in both domestic and foreign soil [http://andreworos.washcoll.edu/password/oros_ijic_0102.pdf Japan's Growing Intelligence Capabilities, Andrew Oros.] Retrieved on June 9, 2008.] .

History

The Public Security Intelligence Agency was established with the enforcement of the Subversive Activities Prevention Law in July 21, 1952 [http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/PSIA/index.html HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, Official PSIA Webpage.] Retrieved on January 5, 2008.] .

Initially focusing on threats from pro-left wing groups such as the Japanese Red Army during the days of the Cold War, it began to conduct intelligence work on the Aum Shinrikyo after the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995 [http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/japan/koancho.htm Public Security Investigation Agency.] Retrieved on January 5, 2008.] with criticism that the PSIA did not monitor the group, especially with their attempt to acquire and stockpile biological weapons on Japanese soil [http://andreworos.washcoll.edu/password/oros_ijic_0102.pdf Japan's Growing Intelligence Capabilities, Andrew Oros.] Retrieved on June 9, 2008.] . The PSIA had cooperated with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Public Security Bureau in investigating Aum Shinrikyo for a number of years. When asked about their investigation on the cult, a PSIA report had said "There has been no change in its dangerous nature. Strict surveillance is essential." [ [http://www.emergency.com/aumshn98.htm JAPANESE OFFICIALS FEAR RESURGENCE OF AUM SHINRI KYO CULT.] ] .

The PSIA had investigated Aum Shinrikyo when it was revealed that the group had established software firms that could pose security risks to Japan [ [http://www.cesnur.org/testi/aum_022.htm Aum Shinri-kyo Updates (CESNUR) - April 10-17, 2000.] ] .

Chongryon has been under PSIA surveillance for a long time, suspecting it of supposedly performing espionage activities in Japanese soil [ [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070710i1.html Chongryun never gets out from under a cloud.] Retrieved on March 31, 2008.] . The Japanese Ministry of Justice has sought ¥270 million to fund the PSIA on conducting intelligence against North Korean espionage activitiescite paper |title=Japan Primer |publisher= University of Texas |date=2007 |url=http://www1.apan-info.net/Portals/45/VIC_Products/2007/04/070403-P-Japan-web.doc |accessdate=2007-10-06] .

The PSIA had been suppose to be integrated with Naicho in order to reorient the agency to a post-Cold War and to enhance Naicho's resources, but the proposal was not adopted [http://andreworos.washcoll.edu/password/oros_ijic_0102.pdf Japan's Growing Intelligence Capabilities, Andrew Oros.] Retrieved on June 9, 2008.] .

Current PSIA cases

*An investigation into French Al-Qaeda terrorist Lionel Dumont had been the responsibility of the PSIA in 2004 [ [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20040602f1.html Al-Qaeda agent lived quiet life in Niigata] Retrieved on April 1, 2008.] .
*The PSIA raided the headquarters of Fumihiro Joyu's Hikari no Wa on May 10, 2007 [ [http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/406326 Cult group of former Aum official inspected by public safety agency.] Retrieved on May 10, 2007.] . Despite on insistences from Joyu that his group had ended ties with Aum Shinrikyo, a PSIA official warned that his group has ties to Shoko Asahara [ [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070511a6.html Joyu-led splinter cult raided, Aum guru images found.] Retrieved on March 31, 2008.] .

Organization

The PSIA is formed with the current organization: [ [http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/PSIA/index.html ORGANIZATION, Official PSIA Webpage.] ]
*Internal Departments
**General Affairs Department
**First Intelligence Department
**Second Intelligence Department

*Institute
**Training Institute

*Regional Bureaus
**Public Security Intelligence Bureaus (Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and Takamatsu)
***Public Security Intelligence Offices (Kushiro, Morioka, Saitama, Chiba, Yokohama, Niigata, Nagano, Shizuoka, Naha, Kobe, Okayama, Kumamoto, Kyoto and Kanazawa)

Foreign ties

The PSIA has ties to several foreign intelligence agencies including the CIA, FBI, Mossad and MI6 with several PSIA agents being invited to train with the CIA under its Intelligence Analysis Course [http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/japan/koancho.htm Koancho.] ] .

Investment Allegation

There had been some suggestion that Chongryon's head office in Chiyoda had been sold to Shigetake Ogata, an ex-director-general of the PSIA under the agency's influence. A PSIA press statement cleared this allegation when it said that it denied being involved in the deal between Chongryon and Ogata [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070613a1.html Chongryun HQ sold to ex-intelligence head.] Retrieved on March 31, 2008.] .

Ogata had been arrested for alleged fraud, which he had denied [ [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070629a3.html Ex-security agency chief held for Chongryun deal.] ] . Ogata had been later charged with fraud after he admitted that he did so [ [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070807a8.html Former security chief admits fraud.] Retrieved on April 1, 2008.] .

Known heads of PSIA

* Shigetake Ogata - 1993 to 1997, head of Harvest investiment group [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070613a1.html Chongryun HQ sold to ex-intelligence head.] Retrieved on March 31, 2008.] [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070614a2.html Chongryun Tokyo HQ sale seems set to fail.] Retrieved on March 31, 2008.]
* Toshiro Yanagi - Current Director-general [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070614a2.html Chongryun Tokyo HQ sale seems set to fail.] Retrieved on March 31, 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.moj.go.jp/KOUAN/ Official Website] ja icon
* [http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/PSIA/index.html Official Website] en icon