Understanding Japan's Defense Industry Renaissance: Prospects and Challenges

Understanding Japan's Defense Industry Renaissance: Prospects and Challenges - In an era of peace, can Japan’s defense industry rise to meet the challenges of tomorrow? What stands in the way of Japan becoming a top global defense exporter? Will a revitalized Japanese defense industry mean a much-needed economic boom for the country? This panel will explore these issues through practitioner-led dialogue that looks critically at the opportunities and challenges of a new era for the defense industry in Japan.

Panelists:

- RADM Naoya Hoshi – Director-General of Logistics Office, Maritime Staff Office, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

- Professor Kazuto Suzuki – Director, Institute of Geoeconomics

- Mr. Matthew Finkel – Council on Foreign Relations-Hitachi Fellow, hosted by YCAPS

YCAPS is glad to partner with Kreab Tokyo to deliver this opportunity

Kreab is a world-class communications consulting firm founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1970. Since its opening in 1985, Kreab Inc., the Tokyo office, has been providing consulting services to a wide range of clients, making full use of its network that connects 30 countries around the world. Kreab supports communications activities with three core business areas: public relations, government relations, and global risk management. This includes extensive experience helping the Japanese government with its global PR efforts. More information is available at https://kreab.com/tokyo/ja/

Please use this link to RSVP for in-person attendance

*RSVP and confirmation is mandatory for attendance

Schedule :

18:00-18:30: Light refreshments & Networking

18:30: Welcoming Remarks

18:35-1905: Moderated panel discussion

19:05: Q&A with members of the audience, moderated by Jim Hartman

19:40: wrap up and thanks

19:45: All activities finished

Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Time: 18:00 refreshments, 18:30 Seminar start

Language: English

Venue: Kreab Tokyo: Atago Green Hills MORI Tower 11F, 2-5-1 Atago, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6211

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/eW37EsN43Kn6zFJh6

Panelists:

Rear Admiral Naoya Hoshi serves as Director General of the Logistics Department, Maritime Staff Office of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), where he is responsible for overseeing logistics policy, sustainment planning, and readiness support for Japan’s naval forces. In this capacity, he leads initiatives to ensure fleet availability, maintenance strategy, supply chain resilience, and long-term lifecycle support for JMSDF platforms. His professional background combines operational naval experience with advanced strategic and technical education. Rear Admiral Hoshi holds a Master of Engineering from the National Defense Academy of Japan and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at the National Defense University (United States), reflecting his expertise in defense resource management, logistics strategy, and national security planning. Throughout his career, he has contributed to the modernization and sustainment of Japan’s maritime forces, particularly in areas related to fleet maintenance, logistics integration, and technological development. As a senior JMSDF leader, he has been involved in advancing concepts for next-generation surface combatants, multi-role frigates, anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and advanced missile integration, while also promoting maintenance strategies that improve fleet readiness and operational longevity.

Kazuto Suzuki is Professor of Science and Technology Policy at the Graduate School of Public Policy at the University of Tokyo, Japan. He graduated from the Department of International Relations, Ritsumeikan University, and received his Ph.D. from Sussex European Institute, University of Sussex, England. He has worked for the Fondation pour la recherche stratégique in Paris, France as an assistant researcher, as an Associate Professor at the University of Tsukuba from 2000 to 2008, and served as Professor of International Politics at Hokkaido University until 2020. He also spent one year at the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University from 2012 to 2013 as a visiting researcher. He served as an expert in the Panel of Experts for Iranian Sanction Committee under the United Nations Security Council from 2013 to July 2015. He has been the President of the Japan Association of International Security and Trade.

Matthew Finkel is a Council on Foreign Relations-Hitachi Fellow in Tokyo, where he conducts research on Japan’s changing defense and space industries, and a 2025-2026 Technology and Human Rights Fellow with the Harvard Kennedy School, where he researches and lectures on a variety of international technology policy issues. Matthew most recently served as Advisor to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, where he led diplomatic efforts relating to critical and emerging technologies, global food security, and other international policy issues. Prior to his appointment to the State Department, Matthew served as Policy Analyst to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs where he advised on issues pertaining to the Middle East and North Africa, global arms sales, and security assistance. A Chicago native, Matthew completed his undergraduate studies at Wesleyan University and his graduate education with Georgetown's School of Foreign Service.

Cost: Free of charge

Moderator: Jim Hartman – Senior Research Fellow, YCAPS

Format: This event will be off-the-record. Questions are encouraged.

Registration: Required. Please use this link to RSVP for in-person attendance

Co-Sponsors: Kreab Tokyo