The Sankei Shimbun 
Lieutenant General Kenichiro Nagumo (right), commander of the newly established Joint Operations Command, receives honors at the Ministry of Defense on the morning of March 24.
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On March 24, the Joint Operations Command was officially launched at the Ministry of Defense (MOD) in Ichigaya, Tokyo. The new unit unifies command over Japan's Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces (JGSDF, JMSDF, JASDF). It will consist of approximately 240 personnel, with Air Force General Kenichiro Nagumo (59) appointed as the inaugural commander.
Until now, the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff — Japan's highest-ranking uniformed officer — was responsible for coordinating among the three forces. With the creation of a dedicated command holding actual authority, Japan aims to respond more swiftly to emergencies and large-scale disasters.
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani stated at the inauguration ceremony, "Our country is facing the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II. The establishment of the Joint Operations Command carries extremely significant meaning."
Lessons from Past Crises
Each branch of the JSDF already has its own command function. However, there was previously no central command overseeing all branches. In previous arrangements, it was the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, who supported the MOD by overseeing inter-unit coordination.
During the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, for example, joint task forces were formed on a per-mission basis, which required time-consuming adjustments in force allocation. Japan's Self-Defense Forces struggled to respond swiftly when multiple emergencies occurred at once.
These challenges sparked calls for a permanent, integrated command capable of maintaining situational awareness in peacetime and transitioning smoothly to emergency operations.
Previously, the Chief of Staff was burdened with a dual role. They had to advise the Prime Minister and Minister of Defense while also overseeing the operational status of forces. Under the new structure, the Chief of Staff can now focus solely on high-level advising, while the Joint Operations Command handles field-level command and control.
Strengthened Military Cooperation
Additionally, the new Joint Operations Command will also strengthen United States-Japan military cooperation. Serving as a direct counterpart to the commanders of the US Indo-Pacific Command and US Forces Japan, the new commander will enable deeper operational-level collaboration and improved information sharing. In response to Japan's changes, the US military is also undergoing related organizational restructuring.
The creation of the Joint Operations Command was outlined in Japan's three security documents released at the end of 2022. Its number of personnel is expected to be expanded to 280 by the end of the next fiscal year.
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Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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