Mission Impossible? The Falklands War Revisited and Its Lessons for Japan

YCAPS is excited to announce the next event in the Community Conversations seminar series in the Yokosuka Community! This event will feature Dr. Keizo Kitagawa, Professor at Keio University's Faculty of Policy Management, who will guide us in a discussion titled: “Mission Impossible? The Falklands War Revisited and Its Lessons for Japan”.

In 1982, Britain fought a war against Argentina over the Falkland Islands, nearly 8,000 miles from home. Despite severe geographical and logistical challenges, British forces succeeded in recapturing the islands after a 74-day conflict. How did Britain accomplish what appeared to be an impossible mission?

Drawing on his recent book, The Falklands War, Dr. Keizo Kitagawa examines the conflict through five levels of warfare: politics, strategy, operations, tactics, and techniques and technology. Particular attention is given to operational art—the ability to translate tactical successes into strategic outcomes. This approach reveals how political decisions, military strategy, and battlefield actions interacted to shape the course and outcome of the war.

The talk also highlights two often underestimated factors in warfare: logistics and people. Britain’s experience demonstrates that military success depends not only on advanced weapons and technology but also on the ability to sustain operations, adapt to unexpected challenges, and exercise effective leadership under extreme conditions.

More than four decades later, the Falklands War offers important lessons for contemporary security challenges, particularly for maritime nations such as Japan. The conflict remains a significant example of modern joint warfare, combining maritime, air, and land operations, including a major amphibious campaign, across vast distances. The sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands also remains unresolved and continues to shape relations between Britain and Argentina today.

What can maritime nations, particularly Japan, learn from Britain’s experience about strategy, joint operations, logistics, human resources, and national resilience?

This book talk invites participants to reconsider the enduring relevance of military history for understanding modern warfare and national defense.

Registration: Optional via this Google Form.

Schedule:

• 18:15-19:00 Refreshments & Networking (food & drinks)
• 19:00-20:15 Presentation and Q&A
• 20:15-20:30 Post Event Conversing

Location: *Please take note: We are back in our new location, The Yokosuka City Industrial Plaza, for this event!

Yokosuka City Industrial Exchange Plaza

〒238-0041 Kanagawa, Yokosuka, Honchō, 3-chōme−27 メルキュールホテル横須賀
https://www.yokosuka-sanpla.jp/

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Speaker:

Dr. Keizo Kitagawa is a professor at Keio University’s Faculty of Policy Management, specializing in defense and security studies, strategic studies, military history, and leadership. He is also a Research Advisor to ITOCHU Research Institute, a Senior Research Fellow at the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS), and an Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

Before joining Keio University, he served for 31 years as a surface warfare officer in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), retiring with the rank of Captain in 2024. His assignments included commanding the destroyer JS Matsuyuki, serving as Commander of Escort Division Two, and Defense Attaché to the United Kingdom. He also participated in United Nations peacekeeping operations in the Golan Heights, Syria and counter-piracy operations in Djibouti. His final assignment was as Dean of the Strategic Studies Department at the JMSDF Command and Staff College.

He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1993, earned his master’s degree from the National Defense Academy of Japan in 2007, and received his PhD in Media and Governance from Keio University in 2018.

His latest book, The Falklands War, was published by Chikuma Shobo in June 2026.

Format: This event will be off-the-record.

Registration: Optional via this Google Form
Moderators: Jeff Mazziotta, YCAPS Activites Coordinator

Co-Sponsor: None
Seminar Cost: Free of charge