Greetings

Makoto Iokibe President of the National Defense Academy of Japan

Despite the hope of many people, the start of the twenty-first century has been marked by terrorist attacks and the threatened proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Often these have not been instigated by a particular state but, rather, are the product of religious and ethnic conflicts. The ensuing instability extends to the Asia-Pacific region, including the Korean peninsula and the Strait of Taiwan.

An Expanding Role for the Self-Defense Forces

By maintaining their level of preparedness, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are continuing to work for the nation’s peace and independence. At the same time, the SDF has expanded their contribution to international peace and stability. The SDF are now supplying fuel for a dozen friendly countries’ naval ships stationed in the Indian Ocean and have undertaken humanitarian missions in Iraq. This is in addition to the traditional United Nations peacekeeping and emergency humanitarian support operations in which the SDF have participated in the past. Our country therefore has an even greater need to train high-quality officers who can lead the SDF in response to the changing international situation.

Training Future Officers at the National Defense Academy

Since its first class was admitted in 1953, our National Defense Academy has graduated more than 21,000 cadets, who are to become the officers of SDF. Having surmounted the constitutional and political constraints imposed on the forces, our graduates have been leading in the defense of our nation. In November 2002 our academy celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi attending and reviewing the cadets’ parade. It was an occasion for us to look back proudly at the past accomplishments of our academy and to confirm our future mission and responsibility.
　　　The academy’s first educational programs were in science and engineering, adding social science in 1974. Then in 1962, the academy began offering graduate programs in science and engineering and, in 1997, initiated a security studies program. Finally, in 2001 the academy started doctoral programs in science and engineering

Broad Perspectives, Scientific Thinking, and a Deep Sense of Humanity

At the present time, the National Defense Academy has about 1,700 cadets, and about 160 graduate students, most of whom are officers. Female cadets were admitted in 1992. All cadets must write graduation theses, and those cadets who have written the best ones are often asked to present them at professional academic meetings under their instructor’s guidance. Outstanding cadets also are selected for short visits to foreign service academies or for participation in international affairs conferences sponsored by foreign service academies.
　　　The academy has a variety of international programs. About sixty-five foreign cadets from about ten countries study at our academy for a four-year undergraduate program, while foreign academies send their cadets and midshipmen to our academy for short-term visits. Each year the academy also organizes an international cadets’ conference and an international seminar on military science. In addition, every year distinguished scholars and specialists from foreign countries, as well as foreign ambassadors in Tokyo, are invited to give lectures. 　　　The academy stresses the importance of educating its cadets to “develop broad perspectives, acquire scientific thinking, and enrich their sense of humanity.” We expect our cadets to become as well as good fighters.

The Need for a Broad Education

The education that our academy offers is broad. After their first year, cadets choose one of the three services (ground, maritime, and air force) to join after their graduation, for which they receive the appropriate service training. In addition, each summer for one month the cadets participate in intensive service training programs at the respective services’ bases and facilities throughout the country.
　　　All cadets are expected to join sports clubs in order to develop team spirit, mutual trust, good manners, as well as expertise in their sport. Adhering to strict schedules and regulations also helps cadets learn the importance of respecting the needs of others and of acquiring organizational management skills.

Four Years in an Inspiring Environment

The National Defense Academy is located on Obaradai Hill next to Kannonzaki of the Miura peninsula. It faces Tokyo Bay, has an excellent view of Mount. Fuji, and is not far from the nation’s capital. The dynamic atmosphere of Obaradai Hill―created by its outstanding faculty, energetic officers, and hardworking administration―is thus conductive to the cadets’ intellectual as well as physical growth. The National Defense Academy is pledged to continue in this way to meet our country’s needs.