West of Palaceside Building in Takebashi, Tokyo, a small building sits at the parking exit: the Kojimachi Police Station Takebashi Community Safety Center. Look closely—it resembles a policeman's cap; brick below the windows suggests a high collar, even a Leiji Matsumoto Galaxy Express 999 conductor.
Formerly the Kojimachi Takebashi koban, it became a "community safety center" for this district on April 1, Heisei 19, through police box consolidation. Two retired police "community safety supporters" alternate daily from about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A video hotline to Kojimachi Station allows consultation when supporters are away.
Supporters say the most common request is directions—20–30 per day, up to 50–60; foreign-language inquiries are frequent. Next are lost-and-found questions.
Patrol cars from Kojimachi Station also circulate regularly, guarding the area around the building together with the center.