Katsutoshi Kawano
in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture
on October 13, 2011
Nickname(s)Doraemon[1]
Born (1954-11-28) November 28, 1954 (age 69)
Hokkaido, Japan [2]
Allegiance Japan
Service/branch Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Years of service1977–2019
Rank Admiral
Commands heldChief of Staff, Joint Staff
Chief of Maritime Staff, JMSDF
Self Defense Fleet
Vice Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff
JDS Atago (DDG-177)
Mine Warfare Force
MSDF Sasebo District
JS Oyodo (DE-231)
Awards Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud
Legion of Merit, Officer’s Degree
Legion of Merit, Commander’s Degree
Order of Australia

Katsutoshi Kawano (河野 克俊, Kawano Katsutoshi, born 28 November 1954)[3] is a retired Japanese admiral who served as the 5th Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces from 2014 to 2019, and was the longest-serving person in that position.[4] Prior to his appointment, he was the Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the de facto navy of Japan.[5][6][7]

Early life and education

Katsutoshi Kawano was born in Hakodate, Hokkaido on November 28, 1954. He is the son of Imperial Japanese Navy & Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Rear admiral Katsuji Kawano, and is the fourth child among five siblings. His father was the Commanding Officer of Sub Area Activity Hakodate and participated in World War II as a young officer of the Imperial Japanese Navy and participated in the Pearl Harbor Attacks as a chief engineer for the Japanese submarine I-16. After his father retired as, Kawano and his family moved to Ibaraki City in Osaka Prefecture. Two months before Katsutoshi was born, Katsuji was involved during the rescue and relief operations in the aftermath of the sinking of the JNR train ferry Tōya Maru due to Tōya Maru Typhoon.[2]

Kawano entered Kasugaoka High School during his high school years and aspired to be an naval officer under the influence of his father and attended the National Defense Academy of Japan, graduating in 1977 with a degree in mechanical engineering.[2] He then joined the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, serving in a number of command and staff positions. In 1990, Kawano also holds a Master of International Studies degree from the University of Tsukuba.

Career

Chief of Staff Katsutoshi Kawano and Then-Rear Admiral Phillip G. Sawyer, Commander of the Submarine Group 7, in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture on October 13, 2011.
Chief of Staff Katsutoshi Kawano with Martin Dempsey (left), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (at the Fort Lesley J. McNair on July 16, 2015)


In 1991, then-Commander Kawano took command of the JS Oyodo, DE-231, an Abukuma-class destroyer escort. In 1999, then-Captain Kawano took command of MSDF Escort Flotilla 3. In 2004, then-Rear Admiral Kawano took command of the MSDF Sasebo District. In 2008, Kawano took command of the Mine Warfare Force. His career was temporarily in jeopardy when a ship under his command, the JDS Atago (DDG-177), collided with a fishing boat and caused two fishermen to go missing.[8] In 2010, then-Vice Admiral Kawano became the Vice Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Council. One year later, in 2011, he became the 45th Commander of the Self-Defense Fleet,[9] succeeding Kenichi Kuramoto. In 2012, he was succeeded by Yasushi Matsushita.

On 26 July 2012, Kawano was promoted to full Admiral and became Chief of Staff of the MSDF, replacing outgoing admiral Masahiko Sugimoto.[10] As MSDF Chief of Staff, he was deeply involved in the ongoing Senkaku Islands dispute.[11]

On 14 October 2014, Admiral Kawano was named by then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self Defense Forces (JSDF). As the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, his term as the is extended thrice, making him serve his post beyond his retirement age at 62. His term was extended first in November 2016, and was extended for a whole year through May 27, due to the North Korea Tensions and for his key strategic insights which gained the support of then-Prime Minister Shinzō Abe.[12] Kawano got his term extended again for the last time until he was replaced by Kōji Yamazaki on March 31, 2019.[13]

After retirement, he became an advisor to the Ministry of Defense. Currently, he is a commentator for the Nippon TV group and an advisor for several companies.[14]

Awards and honors

Defensive memorial cordons

Dates of promotion

Promotions[18]
Insignia Rank Date
Ensign March 1977
Commander July 1991
Captain January 1, 1996
Rear Admiral August 1, 2002
Vice Admiral November 7, 2008
Admiral July 26, 2012

References

  1. ^ "【きょうの人】「真に戦える自衛隊維持へ変革」 統合幕僚長に就任した河野克俊（かわの・かつとし）さん（５９）(jp)". Sankei Shimbun. 2014-10-17. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  2. ^ a b c "【話の肖像画】前統合幕僚長・河野克俊（６４）（３）父の異動で各地を転々(jp)". Sankei Shimbun. 2019-06-04. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  3. ^ "Chief of Staff,Joint Staff | Japan JS Oficial Webdite". www.mod.go.jp.
  4. ^ "Chief of Staff,JS | Japan Joint Staff Oficial Website".
  5. ^ "Press Release | Indian Navy". indiannavy.nic.in.
  6. ^ "Press Information Bureau". pib.gov.in.
  7. ^ "CNO Meets with Japanese Counterpart". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  8. ^ Sieg, Linda (February 19, 2008). "High-tech Japan warship collides with fishing boat". Reuters – via www.reuters.com.
  9. ^ Japan Defense Almanac 2010 防衛年鑑（2010年版） ISBN 9784938468316
  10. ^ "Kawano to be appointed as MSDF Chief of Staff | House of Japan - Japan News Technology Autos Culture Life Style". Archived from the original on 2015-05-13. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  11. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-07-21.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "Japan's top uniformed SDF officer to see term extended". 16 May 2018.
  13. ^ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/03/19/national/gsdf-chief-koji-yamazaki-become-japans-top-uniformed-officer/#.XOPi61IzbIU[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "公 表 資 料 令和2年10月9日 内 閣 官 房 防 衛 省 自衛隊法第65条の11第6項の規定に基づく自衛隊員の再就職状況の公表について" (PDF). Ministry of Defense(Japan)Oficial. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  15. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2021-07-02.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ Garamone, Jim. "Dunford Presents Legion of Merit to Japanese Counterpart". Joint Chiefs of Staff. Defense.gov. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Canberra, ACT | Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia". Archived from the original on 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
  18. ^ Katsutoshi Kawano (September 2020). 統合幕僚長 我がリーダーの心得 (in Japanese). WAC inc. ISBN 9784898314944.

External links

Military offices Preceded byShigeru Iwasaki Chief of Staff, Joint Staff October 14, 2014-March 31, 2019 Succeeded byKōji Yamazaki Preceded byMasahiko Sugimoto Chief of the Maritime Staff July 26, 2012-October 13, 2014 Succeeded byTomohisa Takei
Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Japan Self-Defense Forces
Chiefs of the Maritime Staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Categories