The United States and Japan both will start 2025 with new leaders at helm. As the world faces multi-faceted geostrategic challenges, the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance, not only as one of the most critical bilateral alliances for the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific but also as the cornerstone of minilateral and multilateral security partnerships around the world, will only expected to grow. Honorable Minoru Kihara, who most recently served as the Defense Minister of Japan until October 2024, will share his perspectives on Japan’s continuing efforts to keep the U.S.-Japan alliance robust and adaptable to evolving geostrategic challenges.
Featured Speakers
Honorable Minoru Kihara, The 25th Minister of Defense of Japan (2023-2024)
Honorable Minoru Kihara served as the 25th Minister of Defense of Japan between 2023-2024. Currently serving 6th term as a member of the House of Representatives of Japan, Honorable Kihara serves as the Chair of the Research Committee on National Security Affairs in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP). Honorable Kihara was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2005 after having worked for Japan Airlines (JAL) for nearly a decade. Since being elected, he has served in many sub-cabinet level positions as one of the rising leaders within LDP, including Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense (2013-2014), State Minister of Finance (2016-2018) and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister for National Security Affairs (2019-2021). Originally from Kumamoto Prefecture, Honorable Kihara graduated from Waseda University.
Brian Finlay, President and CEO, Stimson Center (Welcome Remarks)
Yuki Tatsumi, Senior Fellow, Co-Director of the East Asia Program & Director of the Japan Program, Stimson Center (Moderator)