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Chief of Staff, Joint Staff

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Chief of Staff, Joint Staff
統合幕僚長
Standard of the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff
Incumbent
General Yoshihide Yoshida
since 30 March 2023
Japan Self-Defense Forces
Member ofJoint Staff
Defense Council
Reports toMinister of Defense
SeatMinistry of Defense Headquarters, Ichigaya, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
AppointerMinister of Defense
Subject to formal approval by the Cabinet
Term lengthMandatory Retirement Age at 62
PrecursorChairman of the Joint Staff Council
Formation1 July 1954
First holderGeneral Keizō Hayashi (as Chairman of the Joint Staff Council)
General Hajime Massaki (as Chief of Staff, Joint Staff)
DeputyVice Chief of Staff, Joint Staff
Website[1]

The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff (Japanese: 統合幕僚長, Hepburn: Tōgō Bakuryō-chō), formerly known as the Chairman of the Joint Staff Council from 1954 to 2006, is the highest-ranking military officer and head of the overall Operational Authority (command) over the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and its three service branches: the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff is primarily held by rank of a four-star rank of General or Admiral, the highest rank in the Japan Self-Defense Force. The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff is selected from among the Chief of Staff, Ground Self-Defense Force, Chief of Staff, Maritime Self-Defense Force and Chief of Staff, Air Self-Defense Force on a rotational basis.

The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff oversees and synchronizes all JSDF services and commands in national defense, primarily on defense coordination and defense preparedness, including three branches' Major Commands, the Chief of the Ground Staff, the Chief of the Maritime Staff, and the Chief of Staff, Air Self-Defense Force. The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff also assists the Minister of Defense on all matters of the JSDF, as well as for both national security and defense matters, such as the formation of defense postures and strategies, policy implementations, and the creation of military doctrines within the country and executes orders of the Minister of Defense with directions from the Prime Minister, who serves as the Commander-in-chief of the JSDF.[1][2]

Structure and Responsibilities

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Main article: Japan Self-Defense Forces § Structure

The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, is the head of the Joint Staff (統合幕僚監部, Tōgō Bakuryō Kanbu), which consists of the Vice Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, the Administrative Vice Chief of Staff, as well as the Joint Staff's five departments and three special staff offices. The Vice Chief of Staff, Joint Staff serves as the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff's primary assistant in overall national defense coordination while the Administrative Vice Chief of Staff assists the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff in administrative matters. The Joint Staff's five departments are the General Affairs Department, Operations Department, Defense Plans and Policy Department, C4 Systems Department and the Logistics Department, while the three special staff are the Joint Staff Councilor, Public Affairs, and the Legal Affairs General.[3]

The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff supervises the service branches operations of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, and their powers are limited to policy formation and defense coordination during peacetime. In wartime, the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff commands all units within the JSDF and exercises complete authority to all units. The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff will also be responsible for commanding all defense initiatives, conduct various defense operations and implement strategies that can be utilized by the state, under the directive of the Minister of Defense and the command of the Prime Minister, which gives all JSDF services to create measures in order to ensure the country's defense and sovereignty.[4][5] The chain of operational authority runs from the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff to the commanders of the several Operational Commands. Each service branch is headed by its respective chief of staff, who has administrative control over its own services.

Retirement and Conferment of Decoration

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The mandatory retirement age for generals who were appointed as the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff is 62 years old. Under these circumstances, the Prime Minister, under the guidance of the Ministry of Defense, has the power appoint a new Chief of Staff, Joint Staff within the Joint Staff council or extend the term of the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff at their pleasure. Upon reaching the age of 70, under Japan's honours system, the former Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff are to be awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 1st class. The creation of upgrading the level of the order from Order of the Sacred Treasure, 2nd class to Order of the Sacred Treasure, 1st class, was made by Shinzo Abe in 2015, which serves as a measure to recognize the former Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff efforts in their service to the JSDF.[6]

List of officeholders

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The current Chief of Staff, Joint Staff is General Yoshihide Yoshida, who took office in March 2023.[7]

Chairman of the Joint Staff Council

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No. Portrait Chairman of the Joint Staff Council Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch
1
Keizō Hayashi 林 敬三
Hayashi, KeizōLieutenant General[8]
Keizō Hayashi
林 敬三
(1907–1991)		1 July 195413 August 196410 years, 43 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
2
Sugie Ichizo 杉江一三
Ichizo, SugieAdmiral
Sugie Ichizo
杉江一三
(1908–1999)		14 August 196429 April 19661 year, 258 days Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
3
Amano Yoshihide [ja] 天野良英
Yoshihide, AmanoGeneral
Amano Yoshihide [ja]
天野良英
(1910–2001)		30 April 196614 November 19671 year, 198 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
4
Hirokuni Muta [ja] 牟田弘國
Muta, HirokuniGeneral
Hirokuni Muta [ja]
牟田弘國
(1910–1987)		15 November 196730 June 19691 year, 227 days Japan Air Self-Defense Force
5
Ryuichi Itaya 板谷隆一
Itaya, RyuichiAdmiral
Ryuichi Itaya
板谷隆一
(1911–1991)		1 June 196931 May 19711 year, 364 days Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
6
Hayao Kinugasa 衣笠駿雄
Kinugasa, HayaoAdmiral
Hayao Kinugasa
衣笠駿雄
(1915–2007)		1 June 197131 January 19731 year, 214 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
7
Ryuhei Nakamura [ja] 中村龍平
Nakamura, RyuheiGeneral
Ryuhei Nakamura [ja]
中村龍平
(1916–2008)		1 February 197330 June 19741 year, 149 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
8
Motoharu Shirakawa [ja] 白川元春
Shirakawa, MotoharuGeneral
Motoharu Shirakawa [ja]
白川元春
(1918–2008)		1 July 197415 March 19761 year, 258 days Japan Air Self-Defense Force
9
Hirokazu Samejima [ja] 鮫島博一
Samejima, HirokazuAdmiral
Hirokazu Samejima [ja]
鮫島博一
(1918–2000)		16 March 197619 October 19771 year, 217 days Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
10
Hiroomi Kurisu [ja] 栗栖弘臣
Kurisu, HiroomiGeneral
Hiroomi Kurisu [ja]
栗栖弘臣
(1920–2004)		20 October 197727 July 1978280 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
11
Takehiko Takae [ja] 高品武彦
Takae, TakehikoGeneral
Takehiko Takae [ja]
高品武彦
(1922–2014)		27 July 197831 July 19791 year, 4 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
12
Goro Takeda 竹田五郎
Takeda, GoroGeneral
Goro Takeda
竹田五郎
(1921–2020)		1 August 197915 February 19811 year, 198 days Japan Air Self-Defense Force
13
Kunio Yada [ja] 矢田次夫
Yada, KunioAdmiral
Kunio Yada [ja]
矢田次夫
(1923–2012)		16 February 198115 March 19832 years, 27 days Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
14
Sumio Murai [ja] 村井澄夫
Murai, SumioGeneral
Sumio Murai [ja]
村井澄夫
(born 1925)		16 March 198330 June 19841 year, 106 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
15
Keitaro Watanabe [ja] 渡部敬太郎
Watanabe, KeitaroGeneral
Keitaro Watanabe [ja]
渡部敬太郎
(1927–1997)		1 July 19845 February 19861 year, 219 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
16
Shigehiro Mori (general) [ja] 森繁弘
Mori,Shigehiro[https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/D8C53TF2/download ][9]General
Shigehiro Mori (general) [ja]
森繁弘
(born 1928)		6 February 198610 December 19871 year, 307 days Japan Air Self-Defense Force
17
Ishii Masao [ja] 石井政雄
Masao, IshiiGeneral
Ishii Masao [ja]
石井政雄
(1931–2007)		11 December 198715 March 19902 years, 94 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
18
Taizo Terashima [ja] 寺島泰三
Terashima, TaizoGeneral
Taizo Terashima [ja]
寺島泰三
(born 1933)		16 March 199030 June 19911 year, 106 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
19
Hajime Sakuma [ja] 佐久間一
Sakuma, HajimeAdmiral
Hajime Sakuma [ja]
佐久間一
(1935–2014)		1 July 199130 June 19931 year, 364 days Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
20
Tetsuya Nishimoto [ja] 西元徹也
Nishimoto, TetsuyaGeneral
Tetsuya Nishimoto [ja]
西元徹也
(1936–2024)		1 July 199324 March 19962 years, 267 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
21
Sugiyama Shigeru [ja] 杉山蕃
Shigeru, SugiyamaGeneral
Sugiyama Shigeru [ja]
杉山蕃
(born 1938)		25 March 199612 October 19971 year, 201 days Japan Air Self-Defense Force
22
Kazuya Natsukawa [ja] 夏川和也
Natsukawa, KazuyaAdmiral
Kazuya Natsukawa [ja]
夏川和也
(born 1940)		13 October 199730 March 19991 year, 168 days Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
23
Yuji Fujinawa 藤縄祐爾
Fujinawa, YujiGeneral
Yuji Fujinawa
藤縄祐爾
(born 1941)		31 March 199926 March 20011 year, 360 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
24
Shoji Takegochi [ja] 竹河内捷次
Takegochi, ShojiGeneral
Shoji Takegochi [ja]
竹河内捷次
(born 1943)		27 March 200127 January 20031 year, 306 days Japan Air Self-Defense Force
25
Toru Ishikawa [ja] 石川亨
Ishikawa, ToruAdmiral
Toru Ishikawa [ja]
石川亨
(born 1944)		28 January 200329 August 20041 year, 214 days Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
26
Hajime Massaki [ja] 先崎一
Massaki, HajimeGeneral
Hajime Massaki [ja]
先崎一
(born 1944)		30 August 200426 March 20061 year, 208 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

Chief of Staff, Joint Staff

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No. Portrait Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch
26
Hajime Massaki [ja] 先 崎一
Massaki, HajimeGeneral
Hajime Massaki [ja]
先 崎一
(born 1944)		27 March 20063 August 2006129 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
27
Takashi Saito (admiral) [ja] 齋藤 隆
Saito, TakashiAdmiral
Takashi Saito (admiral) [ja]
齋藤 隆
(born 1948)		4 August 200623 March 20092 years, 231 days Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
28
Ryoichi Oriki [ja] 折木 良一
Oriki, RyoichiGeneral
Ryoichi Oriki [ja]
折木 良一
(born 1950)		24 March 200930 January 20122 years, 312 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
29
Shigeru Iwasaki 岩崎茂
Iwasaki, ShigeruGeneral
Shigeru Iwasaki
岩崎茂
(born 1953)		31 January 201213 October 20142 years, 255 days Japan Air Self-Defense Force
30
Katsutoshi Kawano 河野 克俊
Kawano, KatsutoshiAdmiral
Katsutoshi Kawano
河野 克俊
(born 1954)		14 October 201431 March 20194 years, 168 days Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
31
Kōji Yamazaki 山崎 幸二
Yamazaki, KōjiGeneral
Kōji Yamazaki
山崎 幸二
(born 1961)		1 April 201929 March 20233 years, 362 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
32
Yoshihide Yoshida 吉田 圭秀
Yamazaki, KōjiGeneral
Yoshihide Yoshida
吉田 圭秀
(born 1962)		30 March 2023Incumbent1 year, 273 days Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "自衛隊: 組織" [JSDF: Organization]. Nihon Daihyakka Zensho (Nipponika) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 153301537. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
  2. ^ "Responsibility of COS,JS | Japan　JSO　Oficial Webdite". www.mod.go.jp. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  3. ^ "Organization".
  4. ^ "Self Defense Forces". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
  5. ^ The Ministry of Defense Reorganized: For the Support of Peace and Security (PDF). Tokyo: Japan Ministry of Defense. 2007. pp. 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-04-12. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  6. ^ "【国防最前線】自衛官の勲章・叙勲の再考を 職務を全うした隊員すべてに生前付与を". ZAKZAK (in Japanese).
  7. ^ Japan Self-Defense Forces. "Organization". Ministry of Defense (Japan). Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  8. ^ December 1, 1962 promotion to General.
  9. ^ P89 5th line,need to download
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