Japan Forum for Strategic Studies

The Japan Forum for Strategic Studies (JFSS; Japanese: 日本戦略研究フォーラム) is a Japanese policy research organization registered as a general incorporated association (一般社団法人). According to its founding statement dated 1 March 1999 (Heisei 11), the Forum was established to conduct broad, comprehensive research on national strategy spanning politics, economics, military affairs and science and technology, and to put the resulting findings before the public as policy recommendations. Its stated purpose is to contribute to the protection of Japan's national interests and to the establishment of a leading position for Japan in the international community. The Forum describes its activities as research, study and recommendations for building a comprehensive national strategy; hosting international and domestic conferences, lectures, symposia and study groups; exchange, dialogue and joint research with research institutions in Japan and abroad; publishing research and activity results and issuing a journal; and other undertakings needed to achieve its aims. Its main research themes include the world order and the advancement of Japan's national interests amid multipolarity and the power shift toward Asia and the Pacific; global common interests and Japan's role, including non-traditional threats, non-proliferation, conflict and terrorism prevention, stable supply of food and energy, and environmental protection; strengthening Japan's comprehensive national power in defense, economic, scientific, technological, informational and international communication terms; and information and Japan's response, including policies that use the information revolution for a new security policy. JFSS is led by a president and vice president and has historically drawn its leadership from former senior government and defense officials and academics. Its listed past presidents include Ryūzō Sejima (first president), Takatoku Chūjō (second president), Tarō Yayama (president and permanent supreme advisor), and permanent advisors including Shinzō Abe and Takayuki Kasai. Its current president is Toshio Watanabe, former president of Takushoku University, and its vice president is Kazuhisa Shimada, former administrative vice-minister of defense. The Forum also lists a roster of past chairmen, directors and vice presidents. Public-facing output includes the quarterly journal Kihō (季報), which the Forum notes is placed in American universities and read by many professors and students; recommended books; a series of named commentary columns by affiliated researchers and commentators; and a Key Note Chat event series. Its researchers and contributors include figures such as former U.S. Marine Corps colonel Grant F. Newsham, Yoshihisa Komori, Masatoshi Fujitani, Fumio Niwa, Hideyo Fudesaka, and others, whose columns and articles are regularly posted on the Forum's website and sometimes republished in outlets such as Asia Times and The Sunday Guardian. The Forum's site also carries commentary on topics such as the Northern Territories dispute, Japan-China relations, technology leakage and information warfare.

The Japan Forum for Strategic Studies was established with a founding statement dated 1 March 1999 (Heisei 11). Its founders described the organization as a response to what they saw as an urgent need for a think tank dedicated to broad and comprehensive national strategy research covering politics, economics, military affairs and science and technology. The founding statement explains that the Forum was created to gather wisdom from many sectors, to contribute to the establishment of a national strategy for Japan's security and prosperity in the first half of the 21st century, and to make policy recommendations — including proposals on revising the constitution and other legal frameworks and on improving domestic systems. From its inception the Forum framed its mission around four broad areas: international political strategy, international economic strategy, military strategy and science and technology strategy. Its stated purpose is to research national strategy from comprehensive perspectives and to put the results before the public as policy recommendations, thereby contributing to Japan's national interests and to establishing a leading position for Japan in the international community. Over the years the Forum has been led by figures from government, defense and academia. Its first president was Ryūzō Sejima, and its first director-general (chairman) was Shigemoto Nagano. Takatoku Chūjō served as the second president. Tarō Yayama served as president and later as permanent supreme advisor. Permanent advisors have included Shinzō Abe and Takayuki Kasai, and James E. Auer has also been listed as a permanent advisor. Vice presidents have included Shirō Odamura and Ken Satō. The current president is Toshio Watanabe, former president of Takushoku University, and the current vice president is Kazuhisa Shimada, former administrative vice-minister of defense. The Forum's activities have included research and recommendations for building a comprehensive national strategy; hosting international and domestic conferences, lectures, symposia and study groups; exchange, dialogue and joint research with research institutions in Japan and abroad; publishing research and activity results and issuing a journal; and other necessary undertakings. Its main themes have covered the world order and Japan's national interests amid multipolarity and the power shift to Asia and the Pacific; global common interests and Japan's role, including non-traditional threats, non-proliferation, conflict and terrorism prevention, stable food and energy supply, and environmental protection; strengthening Japan's comprehensive national power in defense, economy, science and technology, information and international communication; and information and Japan's response, including using the information revolution for a new security policy. In its public-facing work, the Forum publishes the quarterly journal Kihō (季報), which it states is placed in American universities and read by many professors and students. It recommends books, runs a Key Note Chat event series, and hosts named commentary columns by affiliated researchers and commentators, including Grant F. Newsham, Yoshihisa Komori, Masatoshi Fujitani, Fumio Niwa, Hideyo Fudesaka, Tarō Yayama, Masao Sakaba, and Masatoshi Murakami. Columns and articles by its fellows are regularly posted on the Forum's website and have been republished in outlets such as Asia Times and The Sunday Guardian. The Forum's commentary has addressed topics including the Northern Territories dispute, Japan-China relations, technology leakage and information warfare.

• Founding statement dated 1 March 1999 (Heisei 11); the Forum is established as a general incorporated association.

• Ryūzō Sejima serves as first president; Shigemoto Nagano as first director-general (chairman).

• Takatoku Chūjō serves as second president.

• Tarō Yayama serves as president and later as permanent supreme advisor.

• Shinzō Abe and Takayuki Kasai listed as permanent advisors.

• Toshio Watanabe (former president of Takushoku University) serves as president; Kazuhisa Shimada (former administrative vice-minister of defense) as vice president.

• The Forum holds its 198th Key Note Chat.

• FRA-JFSS first policy simulation 'Shield of Democracy' posted.

A Japanese national-strategy think tank that combines research and policy advocacy, with leadership drawn from former senior government, defense and academic figures.

• Quarterly journal Kihō (季報)

  The Forum's quarterly journal, which it states is placed in American universities and read by many professors and students. Listed volumes include VOL.109 JUL.2026, VOL.108 APR.2026, VOL.107 JAN.2026 and VOL.106 OCT.2025.

• Policy research and recommendations

  Research and recommendations on comprehensive national strategy, including international political strategy, international economic strategy, military strategy and science and technology strategy.

• Commentary columns

  Named columns by affiliated researchers and commentators, including Grant F. Newsham, Yoshihisa Komori, Masatoshi Fujitani, Fumio Niwa, Hideyo Fudesaka, Tarō Yayama, Masao Sakaba and Masatoshi Murakami.

• Recommended books

  Books recommended by the Forum, such as 'Crisis Management Is the Best Investment' by Motohito Marutani and 'Modern History of Information Warfare' by Sōki Watanabe and Motohito Marutani.

• Key Note Chat

  An event series; the 198th Key Note Chat was held.

1. 1日本戦略研究フォーラム（JFSS) official website homepagejfss.gr.jp
2. 2日本戦略研究フォーラム（JFSS) About pagejfss.gr.jp
3. 3Wikidata: Japan Forum for Strategic Studieswikidata.org