Danica Davidson
August 28, 2024 
When police need help, who do they turn to? Well, the police in Ibaraki have tapped an Ingram from Patlabor the Mobile Police.
This video of the mecha was shared online, along with this note from police headquarters:
“‘Ibaraki Prefectural Police x Mobile Police Patlabor’
In order to protect the safety and security of the citizens of the prefecture, we carry out various police activities such as crime prevention and traffic safety, using strong enforcement skills like Ingram.”https://twitter.com/ibarakipolice/status/1827224320848097439
This isn’t the first time police have shown off their Ingram. But what can an Ingram do in real life, as opposed to what it can do in an anime? This particular Ingram is rather eye-catching, and on its shoulders it holds banners with important reminders: “A healthy and long life – Road Safety” and “Providing peace of mind through light – Reflective Materials.”
SoraNews24 shared some of the excited responses from Japanese fans online:
“So the Patlabors are now making their way into the real world…”
“Wow, is this for real? Ibaraki Police are so cool!”
“This should be a permanent fixture!”
HIDIVE gave this description for Patlabor the Mobile Police:
Patlabor the Mobile Police Summary
Another of our favorite classic anime series from the 1980s, Patlabor the Mobile Police casts mecha not as machines of war, but as machines dedicated to public service.
In this series and its accompanying films and OVAs, construction crews pilot mechanical “Labors” to perform dangerous jobs too demanding for human laborers. Police forces, meanwhile, use Patrol Labors (or “Patlabors”) to keep the peace, and most episodes revolve around the clever ways Officer Noa Izumi uses her Patlabor to solve problems and deter crime.
The franchise’s spin on mecha is as unique as it is iconic. In fact, the series is so well-loved in Japan that the government declared August 10th to be National Patlabor Day! How’s that for a series’ pedigree?
Source: SoraNews24
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
