Chief of Staff, Joint Staff
The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff , formerly known as the Chairman of the Joint Staff Council from 1954 to 2006, is the highest-ranking military officer and head of the overall Operational Authority (command) over the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) and its three service branches: the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff is primarily held by rank of a four-star rank of General or Admiral, the highest rank in the Japan Self-Defense Force. The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff is selected from among the Chief of Staff, Ground Self-Defense Force, Chief of Staff, Maritime Self-Defense Force and Chief of Staff, Air Self-Defense Force on a rotational basis.
Chief of Staff, Joint Staff
Image: Keizo Hayashi 01 (cropped version)
Image: JMSDF Admiral Ichizo Suie
Image: JGSDF General Yoshihide Amano
Japan Self-Defense Forces
The Japan Self-Defense Forces, also known as the Japanese Armed Forces, are the unified de facto military forces of Japan. Established in 1954, the JSDF comprises the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. They are controlled by the Ministry of Defense with the Prime Minister as commander-in-chief.
National Police Reserve, 3 May 1952
The Japanese Ministry of Defense
JS Kongō (DDG-173) firing a Standard Missile 3 anti-ballistic missile to intercept a target missile launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on December 17, 2007
JGSDF soldiers during a training exercise