Chief of Staff, Joint Staff

The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff (統合幕僚長), 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.

The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff oversees and synchronizes all JSDF services and commands in self defense, primarily on defense coordination and defense preparedness, including three branches' Major Commands, the Chief of the Ground Staff, the Chief of the Maritime Staff, and the Chief of Staff, Air Self-Defense Force. The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff also assists the Minister of Defense on all matters of the JSDF, as well as for both national security and defense matters, such as the formation of defense postures and strategies, policy implementations, and the creation of military doctrines within the country and executes orders of the Minister of Defense with directions from the Prime Minister, who serves as the Commander-in-chief of the JSDF.

Structure and Responsibilities
The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, is the head of the Joint Staff (統合幕僚監部), which consists of the Vice Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, the Administrative Vice Chief of Staff, as well as the Joint Staff's five departments and three special staff offices. The Vice Chief of Staff, Joint Staff serves as the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff's primary assistant in overall self defense coordination while the Administrative Vice Chief of Staff assists the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff in administrative matters. The Joint Staff's five departments are the General Affairs Department, Operations Department, Defense Plans and Policy Department, C4 Systems Department and the Logistics Department, while the three special staff are the Joint Staff Councilor, Public Affairs, and the Legal Affairs General.

The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff supervises the service branches operations of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, and their powers are limited to policy formation and defense coordination during peacetime. In wartime, the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff commands all units within the JSDF and exercises complete authority to all units. The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff will also be responsible for commanding all self-defense initiatives, conduct various defense operations and implement strategies that can be utilized by the state, under the directive of the Minister of Defense and the command of the Prime Minister, which gives all JSDF services to create measures in order to ensure the country's defense and sovereignty. The chain of operational authority runs from the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff to the commanders of the several Operational Commands. Each service branch is headed by its respective chief of staff, who has administrative control over its own services.

Retirement and Conferment of Decoration
The mandatory retirement age for generals who were appointed as the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff is 62 years old. Under these circumstances, the Prime Minister, under the guidance of the Ministry of Defense, has the power appoint a new Chief of Staff, Joint Staff within the Joint Staff council or extend the term of the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff at their pleasure. Upon reaching the age of 70, under Japan's honours system, the former Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff are to be awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 1st class. The creation of upgrading the level of the order from Order of the Sacred Treasure, 2nd class to Order of the Sacred Treasure, 1st class, was made by Shinzo Abe in 2015, which serves as a measure to recognize the former Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff efforts in their service to the JSDF.

List of officeholders
The current Chief of Staff, Joint Staff is General Yoshihide Yoshida, who took office in March 2023.