DSEI Japan Executive Committee
With extensive experience as former Administrative Vice-Minister of Defense, Mr. Nishi has contributed to advancing Japan’s security and defence industry by providing advisory services both domestically and internationally.
Mr. Nishi has served in several prominent positions, including Chairman of the DSEI Japan 2025 Executive Committee; Chairman of the Trans-Pacific Group; Advisor to the Office of Distinguished Fellow, Japan Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI), United Kingdom; and Special Advisor to Boston Consulting Group.
As Administrative Vice-Minister of Defense, he led many important projects, including promotion of the defence industry, procurement system reform, review of the Three Principles on Arms Export, implementation of the F-35, negotiations of the submarine export to Australia, enactment of Legislation for Peace and Security, revision to the Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation, and the establishment of the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA).
Previously, Mr. Nishi was involved in numerous key international initiatives, including negotiations with the United States on ballistic missile defence plans and the development of an anti-ballistic missile system. He also led discussions on the transfer of some equipment along with the withdrawal of the PKO troops from Cambodia.
He holds a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Oxford, and a bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Law, the University of Tokyo.
Shigeru Iwasaki is a defence and security expert active both in Japan and internationally, with his deep insights into the current defence landscape and defence technologies based on his extensive experience as Chief of Staff, Joint Staff Office (highest-ranking officer responsible for overseeing and coordinating the ground, maritime, and air branches).
He holds roles such as Vice Chairman of the DSEI Japan 2025 Executive Committee, Chairman of Nihon Cyber Defence, Senior Advisor to ANA Holdings Inc., and advisory board member of Jitsugyo no Nihon Forum.
As a defence expert, Mr. Iwasaki frequently appears on YouTube and TV programs, including NewsPicks, where he engages in discussions with Takafumi Horie. Through these activities, he broadly communicates the realities of defence in an easily understandable manner for the general public and industry professionals.
Previously, Mr. Iwasaki served as Special Adviser to the Minister of Defense and Special Advisor to the Cabinet, playing pivotal roles in formulating national defence plans.
During his tenure with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, he was deployed around 100 times in response to airspace incursions by Russia and China.
He holds a degree in aerospace engineering from National Defense Academy.
Dr. Hideaki Watanabe, doctor of engineering, is a leading expert in defence technology and defence policy in Japan. He is the first Commissioner of the Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA). Dr. Watanabe has held positions including Vice Chairman of the DSEI Japan 2025 Executive Committee, Chairman of the Defense Technology Foundation, Advisor to SBI Holdings, Inc., and Advisor to SHIFT Inc. In these roles, he has focused on strengthening cybersecurity business in the civil sector, promoting the civilian applications of defence technologies, and enhancing security collaboration with industry partners.
At the Defense Agency (currently the Ministry of Defense), Dr. Watanabe was involved in R&D of radar and electronic warfare technologies. He contributed significantly to advancing the defence technology development in Japan through technological positions such as Director, Electronic Systems Research Center, Technical Research & Development Institute (TRDI); Director, Administrative Division, TRDI; Director for Technology, Minister’s Secretariat; and Director General, TRDI.
Upon the launch of the ATLA in 2015, he was named as the first Commissioner of the Agency. He retired in 2017. He holds a doctoral degree from Keio University.
Hideo Suzuki is a highly experienced expert in business policies and economic strategies in Japan. In addition to his positions as Vice Chairman of the DSEI Japan 2025 Executive Committee and Senior Managing Director of the Petroleum Association of Japan (PAJ), he was a visiting professor, Graduate School of Economics & Management, Saitama University.
During his service at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (currently the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry), he played key roles in business and trade policies in Japan, including Senior Industry Adviser to the Department of Trade and Industry, the United Kingdom; Deputy Vice-Minister, Minister’s Secretariat (Industrial Finance); Director-General, Department of Multilateral Trade System; Director-General, Acquisition Reform, Ministry of Defense; Director-General, Industrial Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; and Director-General, Trade Policy Bureau.
He is the author of 21-seiki no Sangyo to Kin’yu (industry and finance in the 21st Century) (co-author, Shin Keizai Sangyo Shinsho); Genki de Yutaka na Nihon o Tsukuru Zeisei Kaikaku (tax reform for revitalizing Japan) (Shin Keizai Sangyo Shinsho); Shin Haken Kokka Chugoku x TPP Nichibei Domei (China as new hegemon vs Japan-US TPP alliance) (Asahi Shimbun Publications); and Japan Risk (co-author, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs). In these books, he provides valuable insights into the industry.
He holds a master’s degree in development economics from Yale University and a master’s degree from the University of Washington School of Law. He graduated from the Faculty of Law, Kyoto University.
Takeshi Ishikawa is the former Commissioner of the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA), Ministry of Defense, Japan.
After joining the Japan Defense Agency (as it was then known) in 1988, he held a wide range of senior leadership positions in core departments responsible for defense policy, defense planning, intelligence, equipment policy, and project management. Throughout his career, he contributed to the formulation and execution of numerous key national defense policies.
He was seconded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cabinet Office’s Peacekeeping Operations Secretariat, and also served overseas for more than five years in total, including at the Defense Procurement Office in Washington, D.C., and the Embassy of Japan in the United Kingdom in London. During these assignments, he worked closely with counterparts in the United States and the United Kingdom, contributing to the resolution of critical international security challenges.
Among his recent major achievements, as Commissioner of ATLA, he successfully led Japan’s effort in securing the selection of the Mogami-class frigate as Australia’s next-generation frigate. He also played a leading role in promoting the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) between Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy for the joint development of a sixth-generation fighter aircraft, contributing to the establishment of the intergovernmental organization (GIGO) and the joint venture (JV) structure.
He currently serves as Senior Advisor to Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Tokyo.
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