NAGOYA, December 31, 2025 – Police in Japan, working with a university in Aichi Prefecture and NTT Data Group Corp., have created an artificial intelligence system to generate composite sketches of suspects quickly, allowing even those without artistic skills to produce reliable images.
The tool addresses the time-consuming nature of traditional hand-drawn sketches. Users input details such as gender, approximate age, nose size, and hairstyle after viewing a suspect. The AI then produces candidate drawings for selection and minor adjustments.
In a mid-December demonstration at Aichi prefectural police headquarters in Nagoya, students from the University of Human Environments tested the prototype.
After observing an officer posing as a suspect for about 30 seconds, participants completed sketches in roughly 10 minutes.
Kaho Hibino, a 22-year-old student, said: “It was difficult, but I was able to make a sketch similar to the model. I hope the system can be utilized to quickly detain suspects.”
Yoshihiro Aoyama, head of the police force’s cyber unit, emphasized efficiency: “We aim to make police work more efficient by adopting AI.”
A trial is planned from April 2026 to September 2027. The Aichi police have not set a date for operational use.
The collaboration involves the University of Human Environments and NTT Data Group Corp., a major Japanese IT firm. The system reflects broader efforts to integrate AI into law enforcement for faster investigations.
Traditional sketches rely on trained artists and witness recall, often taking hours. The AI approach could standardize outputs and reduce delays in identifying suspects.
As police worldwide explore AI for forensics, Japan’s initiative focuses on practical tools for frontline officers. Success in trials may encourage wider adoption across prefectures.
