Koichi Isobe
Executive Strategist
Former 37th Commanding General of the Eastern Army, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force / Lieutenant General
He currently works as a strategist in Japan and globally. He is a strategy consultant for Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., as well as an executive strategist for the NSBT Japan. He also serves as a director of the Japan Association for International Security.
Moreover, he serves as a guest lecturer at the Joint Staff College of the Ministry of Defense specializing in joint operations, Japan-U.S. alliance, and strategies. He served as a senior research fellow at the Harvard University Asia Center from 2017 to 2019 as well as the Asia Pacific Initiative from 2017 to 2021.
As soon as he graduated from the National Defense Academy with a major in international relations theory in 1980, he joined the Ground Self-Defense Force and worked as a helicopter aviator. Later he served as the chief, Defense Policy and Programs Department of Ground Staff Office as well as the Central Readiness Force deputy commander. He also served as the director of Defense Programs, Joint Staff Office and commanding general of the Ground Self-Defense Force’s 7th Armored Division and the vice chairman of the Joint Staff Office. He retired from active duty in 2015 after serving as the commanding general of the Eastern Army as his last appointment.
He earned a Master of Art in military studies from the Marine Corps University in 1996, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University in 2003. His publication includes “The front-line of Operation Tomodachi - Lessons Learned from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident for Improving Japan-U.S. Cooperation” (This book received the Japan Society of Defense Studies Inoki Masamichi Special Award in 2019.) and “National Security Strategy Primer- Learn from U.S. National Defense University” in September 2023.
