Launch of the National Intelligence Bureau—What Will Japan’s Intelligence Reforms Change? (Prof. Ken Kotani, Professor, College of Risk Management, Nihon University）

OVERVIEW実施概要

Date & Time 14:00-15:30, Thursday, October 22, 2026 Application Deadline 12:00, Wednesday, October 21 Theme Launch of the National Intelligence Bureau—What Will Japan’s Intelligence Reforms Change? Briefer Prof. Ken Kotani, Professor, College of Risk Management, Nihon University

Brief Bio: Born in 1973. Graduated from the Ritsumeikan University College of International Relations in 1996. Received his MA from King’s College London in 2000. Received his PhD in from the Kyoto University Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies in 2004. Specializes in international political studies and intelligence research. Started in his current position in 2016 after working as a research fellow at the National Institute for Defense Studies, a lecturer at the National Defense Academy of Japan, a visiting research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, and a visiting research fellow at the London School of Economics.

Language Japanese, with consecutive English interpretation

With increased risks to national security and economic security, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, misinformation, influence operations, and cyberattacks, gathering and analyzing intelligence for policy decisions is growing more important to nations around the world. Japan also reached a major turning point in July 2026 for the intelligence framework of its government with the establishment of the National Intelligence Council and the National Intelligence Bureau.

How will Japanese policy decisions change with the launch of this new framework? To what extent will ministries and agencies share and analyze information, and to what extent will policy decision makers utilize intelligence? Along with the need for responses to the rapid development of AI, cyberattacks, misinformation and influence operations, simultaneously ensuring the protection of liberty and privacy, and democratic control, are also important issues.

The FPCJ has invited Prof. Ken Kotani of the Nihon University College of Risk Management to discuss the background behind launching this new intelligence framework, and what changes can be expected with its establishment. He will also discuss what roles policy decision makers will be expected to play, the state of information sharing and analysis between government ministries and agencies, and what is expected of modern intelligence considering new threats such as AI, cyberattacks, and misinformation.

Please note that you cannot physically attend this briefing, as it will be a Zoom webinar.

Embassy representatives and FPCJ supporting members may also participate in the briefing as observers (admission free).

As in our standard press briefings, there will be a Q&A session at the end.
*In principle, questions will only be accepted from members of the foreign press.

Members of the Foreign Press:

Please send any questions for the briefer or topics you are interested in to [email protected] by 12:00 on Tuesday, October 20. As there will only be a limited amount of time to ask questions during the briefing, we will collect questions and provide them to the briefer in advance.

Embassy representatives and FPCJ supporting members may also watch the briefing as observers (admission free).

■How to Apply: Please refer to the email we sent.
*We will not be accepting applications by email.