Exclusive: Security from around the world – Part 13

In the thirteenth instalment of the series, Matthew Porcelli, CPP catches up with Jun Fukutani of the ASIS International – Japan Chapter.

What are the most pressing security challenges you are facing in Japan?

The Japanese security landscape is facing a similar challenge that other countries are facing – retaining and securing top talent for our profession.

I must develop, or attract in some cases, as many advanced security professionals ready to compete in the global market as possible. I must also build environments where those who gain experiences outside of Japan, can work in active roles when they return to Japan.

After twenty-plus years in the United States and returning to Japan, this has become a primary mission. To reach goals associated with talent attraction, retention and development, I have found it necessary to re-brand what it is like to work in the security profession.

My hope is that other security professionals will join this “campaign” as it benefits us all to have a larger pool of talent.

Can you describe your journey in the world of security?

My journey started when I was nineteen years old. I was longing to become a police officer in the US. I decided to study in the US after graduating from high school without knowing that I couldn’t be a police officer with my Japanese citizenship.

However, I have no regrets about my decision, and I successfully received a Bachelor’s degree in criminology from Indiana State University and a Master’s degree in Protection Management from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. From there, I joined the Department of Safety and Security at the United Nations in 2006.

Prior to my United Nations career, I worked as a process server in New York City, worked as an investigator at an insurance company and had been employed as a security guard by the New School University.

I also successfully managed to take many training courses including New York State Emergency Medical Technician Basic (EMT-B) during the period. To have taken the Certified Protection Specialist (C.P.S) course at Executive Security International (ESI) has become a turning point in my career.

A few months after the completion of the course, I was chosen for a training session for the selection of the Close Protection team of the United Nations Secretary-General. However, I took full advantage of the opportunity and became a member of the team in 2010.

I had valuable experiences in the ten years. I was assigned to the protection team for the eighth United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and ninth Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. I have traveled to more than sixty countries and have met many world leaders as well as extremely talented security professionals from across the globe.

I returned to Japan in January 2020 and founded FJ Protection Services in November the same year and have been fostering young Japanese security professionals since then. In 2022, I began work as an Asset Protection Manager at StockX Japan.

Tell us about your journey within ASIS and how it has helped you in your career.

When I was a graduate student at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, I learned about ASIS International for the first time. I took advantage of the student discount and joined ASIS. I remember I enjoyed attending an ASIS New York City Security Conference and Expo at Jacob Javits Center; I have been an active ASIS member since 2019.

I passed the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) exam in March 2021. The reason why I took CPP is I thought it would help my business to earn the trust of customers.

The good news is that little by little I began to see companies set CPP and/or Physical Security Professional (PSP) as the requirement for their physical security-related job posts. StockX’s talent acquisition specialist recruited me because I am one of a few CPP holders in Japan.

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