Translation guide
Refers to elite military units tasked with protecting the emperor and the imperial palace in Japan. The term can refer to historical or modern units, and the appropriate Japanese word depends on the specific context.
The current unit responsible for the protection of the Emperor of Japan and the Imperial Palace, part of the National Police Agency.
The official name for the Imperial Guard Headquarters, a branch of the National Police Agency. This is the most common term for the modern Imperial Guards.
皇宮警察は皇居の警備を担当しています。
The Imperial Guards are responsible for the security of the Imperial Palace.
Refers to an individual Imperial Guard officer. Use this when referring to a person rather than the organization.
彼は皇宮護衛官として働いています。
He works as an Imperial Guard officer.
The military unit that guarded the Emperor and Imperial Palace before and during World War II, part of the Imperial Japanese Army.
The Imperial Guard Division of the Imperial Japanese Army. This is the standard term for the historical military unit.
近衛師団は第二次世界大戦中に多くの戦闘に参加しました。
The Imperial Guard Division participated in many battles during World War II.
Refers to an individual soldier of the Imperial Guard. Use for a single guard rather than the unit.
A general term for guards protecting an emperor, often used in historical or fictional contexts (e.g., ancient Rome, China, or fantasy settings).
A general term for an elite guard unit protecting a ruler, often used for non-Japanese contexts like the Praetorian Guard or fantasy imperial guards.
皇帝の親衛隊は反乱を鎮圧した。
The Imperial Guards suppressed the rebellion.
Similar to 親衛隊, but can also refer to Japanese historical guards. Slightly less common for foreign contexts.
近衛隊は宮殿の門を守っていた。
The Imperial Guards were protecting the palace gates.
Do not translate 'Imperial Guards' word-for-word as 帝国の衛兵 (ていこくのえいへい). This sounds unnatural and is not a standard term. Use the specific terms above depending on context.
近衛師団 (このえしだん) refers to the pre-1945 military unit, while 皇宮警察 (こうぐうけいさつ) is the post-war police unit. Using the wrong one can cause historical confusion.
彼の祖父は近衛兵でした。
His grandfather was an Imperial Guard soldier.