Mikihiko Hashimoto (橋本幹彦, Hashimoto Mikihiko; born 27 December 1995) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of…Mikihiko Hashimoto (橋本幹彦, Hashimoto Mikihiko; born 27 December 1995) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2024. From 2018 to 2019, he served in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
Takashi Uto (born 10 November 1974) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Councillors from…Takashi Uto (born 10 November 1974) is a Japanese politician who served as a member of the House of Councillors from 2010 to 2022. He represented the National proportional representation block and was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He was a member of the following committees as of 2021: Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Fundamental National Policies He left the LDP in December 2025 and joined Sanseitō.
Rear Admiral Ryoko Azuma (東 良子 Azuma Ryōko) (born December 10, 1973) is the first woman to become the chief of a…Rear Admiral Ryoko Azuma (東 良子 Azuma Ryōko) (born December 10, 1973) is the first woman to become the chief of a warship unit in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. She was also a member of the first female class at the National Defense Academy of Japan.
Captain Miho Otani (大谷 三穂) (born May 28, 1971) is an officer in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. She was the…Captain Miho Otani (大谷 三穂) (born May 28, 1971) is an officer in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. She was the first woman to become the captain of a naval training vessel and a destroyer. Otani was also a member of the first female class to enter the National Defense Academy of Japan.
Kimiya Yui (油井 亀美也; born 30 January 1970) is a Japanese astronaut with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)…Kimiya Yui (油井 亀美也; born 30 January 1970) is a Japanese astronaut with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and a retired fighter pilot with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. He was selected by JAXA in 2009.
General Ken'ichirō Nagumo (南雲憲一郎, Kenichiro Nagumo) (2 October 1965) is a retired Japanese military general who served…General Ken'ichirō Nagumo (南雲憲一郎, Kenichiro Nagumo) (2 October 1965) is a retired Japanese military general who served as the first Joint Operations Commander of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
Hiroaki Uchikura (内倉 浩昭, Uchikura Hiroaki; born January 11, 1965) is a Japanese military general who serves as the…Hiroaki Uchikura (内倉 浩昭, Uchikura Hiroaki; born January 11, 1965) is a Japanese military general who serves as the incumbent Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. General Uchikura previously served as the Chief of the Air Staff of the JASDF, commander of the Air Defense Command, and as wing commander of the 5th Air Wing. Born and raised from Tarumizu, Kagoshima, Uchikura served into various positions in the Air Self-Defense Force and later served as a fighter pilot flying the Mitsubishi F-15J. Uchikura later served into various administrative and staff positions within the Air Self Defense Force Staff Office and the Ministry of Defense, both being located in Ichigaya, Shinjuku, before being named in major positions such as being the commander of the Air Defense Command and later as the Chief of the Air Staff in March 2023.
General Shunji “Bert” Izutsu (井筒 俊司) is a former military officer of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force who most notably…General Shunji “Bert” Izutsu (井筒 俊司) is a former military officer of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force who most notably served as the branch’s 35th Chief of Staff From 2020 until his retirement in 2023.
Admiral Hiroyuki Kasui (糟井裕之, Kasui Hiroyuki; born 15 January 1963) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as…Admiral Hiroyuki Kasui (糟井裕之, Kasui Hiroyuki; born 15 January 1963) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as Commander of the Self Defense Fleet of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) from 2019 to 2020. He was the 50th Commander of the Self-Defense Fleet, succeeding Kazuki Yamashita, and was himself succeeded in 2020 by Hideki Yuasa.
Hiroshi Yamamura (山村 浩, Yamamura Hiroshi; born 30 January 1962) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as the…Hiroshi Yamamura (山村 浩, Yamamura Hiroshi; born 30 January 1962) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as the 34th Chief of Staff of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) from March 2019 to March 2022.
Jun Seki (born May 9, 1961) is a Japanese businessman. After serving as president of Dongfeng Nissan, deputy COO of…Jun Seki (born May 9, 1961) is a Japanese businessman. After serving as president of Dongfeng Nissan, deputy COO of Nissan, and CEO of Nidec, he joined Hon Hai Technology Group in February 2023 as chief strategy officer (CSO) of the electric vehicle (EV) business.
General Kōji Yamazaki (山崎 幸二, Yamazaki Kōji) is a Japanese retired general who served as the Chief of Staff, Joint…General Kōji Yamazaki (山崎 幸二, Yamazaki Kōji) is a Japanese retired general who served as the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces from April 2019 to March 2023. He previously served as the Chief of the Ground Staff at the JGSDF from August 2017 to March 2019.
Masahisa Sato (佐藤 正久, Satō Masahisa; born October 23, 1960) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a…Masahisa Sato (佐藤 正久, Satō Masahisa; born October 23, 1960) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet (national legislature). A native of Fukushima Prefecture, he graduated from National Defense Academy of Japan with a major in applied physics and joined the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). In the JGSDF, he was the commander of the Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group. After his retirement as colonel in 2007, he was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in 2007.
Yoshihiro Murai (村井 嘉浩, Murai Yoshihiro; born 20 August 1960) is a Japanese politician who has served as governor of…Yoshihiro Murai (村井 嘉浩, Murai Yoshihiro; born 20 August 1960) is a Japanese politician who has served as governor of Miyagi Prefecture since 2005. A native of Toyonaka, Osaka and a former officer in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, he was first elected governor in 2005 after serving in the Miyagi Prefectural Assembly since 1995. In July 2017 Murai approved the online publication of a tourism promotion video that was created using 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami reconstruction funds and starred actress and gravure idol Mitsu Dan. Female members of the Miyagi Prefectural Assembly, along with members of the public, claimed that the video was sexually suggestive and demanded that it be taken down. Murai initially defended the video on the grounds that it successfully brought attention to the prefecture, but hundreds of complaints were filed in the month after publication, and he ordered the video withdrawn in August 2017.
Kazuki Yamashita (山下万喜, Yamashita Kazuki; born 2 August 1960) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as…Kazuki Yamashita (山下万喜, Yamashita Kazuki; born 2 August 1960) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as Commander of the Self Defense Fleet of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) from 2016 to 2019. He was the 49th Commander of the Self-Defense Fleet, succeeding Yasuhiro Shigeoka, and was himself succeeded in 2019 by Hiroyuki Kasui.
Sadamasa Oue (Japanese: 尾上 定正, romanized: Oue Sadamasa, born May 31, 1959) is a Japanese strategist, retired Japan Air…Sadamasa Oue (Japanese: 尾上 定正, romanized: Oue Sadamasa, born May 31, 1959) is a Japanese strategist, retired Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Lieutenant General, and current Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan (National Security and Nuclear Disarmament/Non-Proliferation Issues). Sadamasa Oue attended the National Defense Academy of Japan as part of the 26th term. He graduated in 1982 and was subsequently commissioned as an officer in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. He formerly served as the Commander of the Northern Air Defense Force and the 24th Commander of the Air Logistics Command Following his retirement in 2017, he became a prominent advocate for defense reform, "Counterstrike Capabilities," and economic security integration. In October 2025, he was appointed as a Special Advisor to the Sanae Takaichi administration, focusing on national security and nuclear disarmament.
Admiral Yasuhiro Shigeoka (重岡康弘, Shigeoka Yasuhiro; born 13 November 1958) is a retired Japanese naval officer who…Admiral Yasuhiro Shigeoka (重岡康弘, Shigeoka Yasuhiro; born 13 November 1958) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as Commander of the Self Defense Fleet of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) from 2015 to 2016. He was the 48th Commander of the Self-Defense Fleet, succeeding Eiichi Funada, and was himself succeeded in 2016 by Kazuki Yamashita.
Admiral Yutaka Murakawa (村川豊, Murakawa Yutaka; born 29 January 1958) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as…Admiral Yutaka Murakawa (村川豊, Murakawa Yutaka; born 29 January 1958) is a retired Japanese naval officer who served as the 33rd chief of staff of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) from 2016 to 2019.
Kōichi Isobe (磯部晃一, Kōichi Isobe; born January 1958) is a retired lieutenant general in the Japan Ground Self-Defense…Kōichi Isobe (磯部晃一, Kōichi Isobe; born January 1958) is a retired lieutenant general in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. He retired from active duty in August 2015, after thirty-five years of service in the Japan Self-Defense Forces. He currently serves as a strategic advisor to Kawasaki Heavy Industries. He also serves as senior fellow of Harvard University Asia Center and at the Asia Pacific Initiative Foundation.
Gen Nakatani (中谷 元, Nakatani Gen; born 14 October 1957) is a Japanese politician who was Director General of the Japan…Gen Nakatani (中谷 元, Nakatani Gen; born 14 October 1957) is a Japanese politician who was Director General of the Japan Defense Agency (now Japan Ministry of Defense) in the first cabinet of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi in 2001-2002 and was appointed the Minister of Defense by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2014. Nakatani was again named to the position of Minister of Defense for the cabinet of Shigeru Ishiba in 2024.
Kiyofumi Iwata (born February 3, 1957) is a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force officer. He served as the 34th Chief of…Kiyofumi Iwata (born February 3, 1957) is a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force officer. He served as the 34th Chief of Staff of the Ground Self-Defense Force and the 33rd Commander of the Northern Army.
Tomohisa Takei (武居 智久, Takei Tomohisa; born January 12, 1957) is a retired Japanese admiral who served as the 32nd…Tomohisa Takei (武居 智久, Takei Tomohisa; born January 12, 1957) is a retired Japanese admiral who served as the 32nd Chief of Staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Born in the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, Takei was commissioned into the JMSDF in March 1979 following his graduation from the 23rd class of National Defense Academy. After 35 years of service, Takei assumed position of JMSDF Chief of Staff in 2014.
Shigeru Iwasaki (岩崎茂, Iwasaki Shigeru; born February 3, 1953) is a Japanese military officer who was the 4th Chief of…Shigeru Iwasaki (岩崎茂, Iwasaki Shigeru; born February 3, 1953) is a Japanese military officer who was the 4th Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. A four-star General from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Iwasaki became the highest-ranking military officer in Japan and ranked third in the overall chain of command (after the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense).
Eiji Kimizuka (君塚栄治, Kimizuka Eiji; July 16, 1952 – December 28, 2015) was the 32nd Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground…Eiji Kimizuka (君塚栄治, Kimizuka Eiji; July 16, 1952 – December 28, 2015) was the 32nd Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the de facto army of Japan. He was promoted to four-star General and assumed the position on August 5, 2011.
Yoshifumi Hibako (火箱 芳文, Hibako Yoshifumi; born May 15, 1951) is a member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces who served…Yoshifumi Hibako (火箱 芳文, Hibako Yoshifumi; born May 15, 1951) is a member of the Japan Self-Defense Forces who served as the 31st Chief of Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. A graduate of the National Defense Academy of Japan, he later returned to serve as vice-president of the Academy. He has served in multiple capacities, including the chiefs of staff of the GSDF Northern Army during the Iraq War, commanding officer of the Chūbu region Army Headquarters, and has even acted as a Japanese foreign representative when meeting officers of other countries.
Toshio Tamogami (田母神 俊雄, Tamogami Toshio; born July 22, 1948) is a retired Japan Air Self-Defense Force general and…Toshio Tamogami (田母神 俊雄, Tamogami Toshio; born July 22, 1948) is a retired Japan Air Self-Defense Force general and politician. He served as the Chief of Staff of the Air Self-Defense Force from March 2007 until his dismissal in October 31, 2008. Tamogami was dismissed in 2008 due to a controversial essay he wrote. In the essay, he denied that Japan was an aggressor in World War II and claimed that Japan had been drawn into the war by Chiang Kai-shek and Franklin D. Roosevelt. He also argued that Japan's wartime actions were not acts of aggression but were justified as self-defense and efforts to "liberate Asia from Western colonialism." Tamogami turned to politics following his retirement from the military. In 2014 he ran as a candidate for governor of Tokyo and for the House of Representatives; in which he both lost. He was arrested in April 2016 for alleged violations of campaign finance laws (illegal payments to supporters) in relation to his gubernatorial campaign. He made a political comeback in 2024 by running for the Tokyo gubernatorial election, but placed fourth and performed worse compared to his 2014 run. He has been described as a "champion of Japan's right wing". He denies that women were forced by the Empire of Japan into sex work as "comfort women" and that the Nanjing Massacre occurred.
Daikirin Takayoshi (大麒麟 將能) (20 June 1942 – 4 August 2010), born Masakatsu Tsutsumi, was a sumo wrestler from Saga…Daikirin Takayoshi (大麒麟 將能) (20 June 1942 – 4 August 2010), born Masakatsu Tsutsumi, was a sumo wrestler from Saga Prefecture, Japan. He began his professional career in 1958 and reached his highest rank of ōzeki twelve years later in 1970. He retired in 1974, and until June 2006 he was an elder of the Sumo Association under the name Oshiogawa.
General Yuji Fujinawa (藤縄 祐爾, Fujinawa Yūji; born 22 September 1941) is a retired Japanese general who served in the…General Yuji Fujinawa (藤縄 祐爾, Fujinawa Yūji; born 22 September 1941) is a retired Japanese general who served in the Japan Self-Defense Forces. A lifelong career military officer, he began as an infantry officer. He was named Chief-of-Staff of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force in July 1997, and became Chairman of the Joint Staff Council in March 1999, his term ending in March 2001.
Satoshi Morimoto (森本 敏, Morimoto Satoshi; born 15 March 1941) is a Japanese politician, scholar and critic specializing…Satoshi Morimoto (森本 敏, Morimoto Satoshi; born 15 March 1941) is a Japanese politician, scholar and critic specializing in international politics and national security. He was Minister of Defense from July to December 2012, and is professor at Takushoku University and member of the Congressional Forum for New Japan.
Hidehisa Otsuji (尾辻 秀久, Otsuji Hidehisa; born 2 October 1940) is a Japanese politician who served as the President of…Hidehisa Otsuji (尾辻 秀久, Otsuji Hidehisa; born 2 October 1940) is a Japanese politician who served as the President of the House of Councillors from 2022 to 2024. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he has been a member of the House of Councillors since 1989, serving as Vice President of the House of Councillors from 2010 to 2012 and as Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare from 2004 to 2005.
Shinichi Nakatani (中谷真一, Nakatani Shinichi; born 30 September 1976) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the…Shinichi Nakatani (中谷真一, Nakatani Shinichi; born 30 September 1976) is a Japanese politician serving as a member of the House of Representatives since 2012. From 2022 to 2023, he served as State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and State Minister of the Cabinet Office.
