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Takao Nakashima
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Naval Captain, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Defense and Naval Attaché
Embassy of Japan in Korea
Strategic Studies Program (M.A.’19)
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Please tell us about your career path so far. What is your area of specialization and how did you come to work in this area?
I was commissioned to the Maritime Self-Defense Force in 2002 after graduating from the National Defense Academy. Half of my career consisted of service as a submarine officer, and I served as a commanding officer (CO) of submarine “UZUSHIO” (SS-592) for one year from 2017 to 2018. I became involved with the Republic of Korea (ROK) when I studied at the Joint Forces Military University, ROK in 2015, where I had a great time with many Korean military officers and foreign students. In June 2020, I was assigned as a Naval Attaché to ROK, and since July 2022, I have served as a Defense and Naval Attaché. During this time, I have been supported and selected as the Dean of the Foreign Military Attaché Corps (FMAC) by many other countries’ military attachés. FMAC has 70 resident and 16 non-resident attachés. I have served for one year as FMAC Dean to ROK in 2022.
Year-end reception hosted by the ROK Military, December 2022, where Nakashima received an appreciation certificate for the completion of the Dean's mission.
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You are currently serving as a Defense and Naval attaché to ROK. Please tell us about your main roles and responsibilities?
In general, military attaché’s main role is to collect military intelligence, which involves obtaining a variety of information from the military and defense authorities of each country and from the foreign military officers stationed there, which is only available through military-to-military relations.
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In addition to this, as Japan’s defense cooperation with other countries has continued to expand in recent years, both in quality and quantity, we are also responsible for coordination relating these activities.
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The Japan Ministry of Defense (MOD) provides editorial assistance to the magazine "MAMOR," which has a column called "Air Mail" in which the Defense Attaché reports on activities in the field. You can see my details in the column, “MAMOR”-vol.179, Jan 2022.
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In your current capacity, what do you see as the main opportunities and challenges for Japan over the course of the next five to ten years?
With the Japan Defense Attaché Team members at
the SAMA (Seoul Association of Military Attachés)
Ball in December 2022.
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The international community, including Japan, is entering a new era of crisis, with serious challenges. In the Indo-Pacific region, there is the potential for serious events that could shake the foundations of the international order. Japan is at the forefront of these movements.
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Against this backdrop, the time has come for Japan to fundamentally review its defense capabilities, further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, and lay the foundation for security cooperation with like-minded countries.
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What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your work? And what have been the most interesting or rewarding aspects of your career thus far?
During my service period in ROK, there were the spread of COVID-19 and the transition to “with-Covid”, the transition to the new government in ROK, and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
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As a representative of Foreign Military Attaché Corps, I have communicated closely with the ROK side and FMAC members to keep up with the changing situation. Fortunately, the Korean language is a relatively close language to Japanese, and I have been able to spend a fulfilling year planning and coordinating various events as the Dean of FMAC, using communication skills. Through these activities, I received high evaluations and reputation from Korean authorities and FMAC members regarding my high level of coordination skills. I will make every effort to make the rest of my tenure as a Defense Attaché even more fulfilling.
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What led you to GRIPS? What is the most important thing you got out of your studies, and how has your experience at GRIPS prepared you for future endeavors?
Before being posted to the present post, I enrolled in a regular course at the National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS), Japan. At that time, I tried a joint program between NIDS and GRIPS (Strategic Studies Program, MA) and completed it in one year. Through interaction with experts in the Strategic Studies field and international students from various countries, I gained a broader perspective on the security environment. In addition, the knowledge and international exchange skills I gained through these experiences have been put to full use when exchanging opinions with various experts, military officers, in ROK right now.
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You are currently based in Seoul. What do you miss about Japan and what do you like most about living in Korea?
Koreans also love Japanese culture more than Japanese people expected, and there is almost no need to worry about Japanese restaurants, foodstuffs, etc. If I had to pick one thing that I miss, I would say Japanese-style “hot spring”. Korean people are more affable than Japanese, and I enjoy various conversations with them over drinks or through various sports.
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How do you maintain a balance between your work and the rest of your life? And what is your favorite thing to do when you are not working?
On my days off, I enjoy golf and skiing. Both are sports that I enjoy with friends, so I have a good holiday getting together with Korean and foreign friends. Some may feel that it is half work, but for me, it is a wonderful and precious time. I also love to cook, so I serve it to my family and friends on my days off.
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If you could give one piece of advice to anyone considering studying at GRIPS what would it be?
In Japan, the need to "relearn" is often heard. Updating your knowledge and improving your international exchange skills in the middle of your career will have a positive impact on your subsequent career beyond your expectations, and GRIPS is one of the best options for such a relearning experience.
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One reason is that it has an excellent faculty and is not just a place that grants degrees, but provides students with the best education in each field, and the connections with the students who gather there can be beneficial. The second reason is that GRIPS is designed to accept mid-career and international students, so mid-career students can learn without confusion. The third reason is that it is located in an urban setting (Roppongi) and is easily accessible from your work. Once you know these, all you have to do is to step forward!
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The views expressed are those of the individual and do not represent the views of the organization to which he belongs.
