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Washington Kenkyu Group: Discussion with ADM Katsutoshi Kawano
September 22, 2026 @ 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Speaker: ADM Katsutoshi Kawano, 5th Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Japan Self Defense Forces
On September 22, Sasakawa USA hosted ADM Katsutoshi Kawano (JMSDF, Ret.), 5th chief of staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, for a Washington Kenkyu Group discussion on Japan’s defense posture, the future of the U.S.-Japan alliance, and the evolving global security environment.
In his remarks, ADM Kawano discussed security developments involving Iran and North Korea and emphasized that military action such as Operation Epic Fury must be accompanied by a viable political exit strategy. He also examined Taiwan’s strategic importance, warning that Chinese control of Taiwan, even without armed conflict, could weaken Japan’s defense posture and disrupt critical semiconductor supply chains. During the Q&A session, ADM Kawano addressed the importance of deploying unmanned systems, especially unmanned surface and underwater vessels, in the Ryukyu Islands, missile defense, and the future of regional security partnerships, stressing that the bilateral alliance, not a NATO-style multilateral alliance, should remain the foundation of Japan’s defense policy.
Photo (left to right): Dr. Satohiro Akimoto and ADM Katsutoshi Kawano
