Japan's Maritime Security ~ 40 Years of Peace and Crisis

Mr. Tomohoko Madono will provide an overview of Japan's domestic and international situation and changes in defense policy from the 1980s to the 2020s, when he served as a Maritime Self-Defense Force officer, and discuss what the Maritime Self-Defense Force was thinking and what activities it has carried out. Additionally, as a concrete example of these activities, he will introduce and summarize the "defense diplomacy" he has conducted against navies around the world, including the United States, China, Russia, and India.

Mr. Madono”s lecture will be moderated by Dr. Yoichiro Sato, a YCAPS Senior Advisor and an APU professor.

YCAPS is glad to partner with Ritsumeikan APU to deliver this opportunity

Date: Friday, October 30, 2026

Time: 18:00-19:30 JST

Venue: Ritsumeikan Tokyo Office, Sapia Tower (8F) by the Nihonbashi Exit of JR Tokyo Station. (in-person; hybrid for APU students in Beppu)

Schedule:

18:00-18:20 Open Door / Networking

18:20-19:00 Conversation

19:00-19:30 Audience Q&A

Speaker:

Mr. Tomohiko Madono was born in 1966 in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture. Graduated from Tsukuba University High School in 1985. After graduating from the National Defense Academy in 1989, was commissioned as a member of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Completed the master's program at the Graduate School of Area Studies, University of Tsukuba in 2002. Afterwards, completed courses at the Asia-Pacific Security Research Center (Hawaii) and NATO National Defense University (Rome). Authored books include 'Words of the Naval Academy Principal Who Upheld Beliefs in Turbulent Times,' 'The Castle Attack on Edo,' 'Admiral's Decision' (Sanwa Shoseki), and 'The Truth Behind the 'Shootdown Theory' in the Crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123' (PHP Institute).

He served as Chief of the Naval Defense Division, Commander of the Second Air Group, Principal of the Maritime Self-Defense Force Officer Candidate School, Deputy Director of the Defense Planning Department of the Joint Staff, Chief of Staff of the Yokosuka Regional Governor's Office, Principal of the Maritime Self-Defense Force Officer School, Deputy Chief of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Governor of the Yokosuka Regional Headquarters, before retiring in 2025

Moderator:

Professor Yoichiro Sato is a YCAPS senior advisor and a professor in the College of Asia Pacific Studies at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. He has published more than 15 books on various aspects of international relations in the Indo-Pacific, foreign policy of Japan, and alliance dynamics, comparing Asia and Europe.

Cost: Free of charge.

Format: The conversations are off-the-record. Questions are encouraged during the live event.

Moderator: Dr. Yoichiro Sato, YCAPS Senior Advisor and APU professor

Registration: None needed

Co-Sponsor: Ritsumeikan APU