Shigeru Iwasaki

Shigeru Iwasaki (岩崎茂) was the 4th Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. A four-star General from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Iwasaki was the highest-ranking military officer in Japan and ranked third in the overall chain of command (after the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense).

Career


Iwasaki was born and raised in Iwate Prefecture and attended Morioka Third High School. He attended the National Defense Academy of Japan, graduating into the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in 1975. He is trained to fly the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, Japan's primary jet fighter.

In August 1991, then-Lieutenant Colonel Iwasaki took command of the 201st Tactical Fighter Squadron. In December 1997, then-Colonel Iwasaki took command of the 7th Air Wing. In January 2001, then-Major General Iwasaki took command of the 2nd Air Wing.

In December 2010, General Iwasaki became the 31st Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. As Chief of Staff, he spearheaded the effort to procure the fifth generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

In January 2012, General Iwasaki was promoted to be Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff, becoming the highest-ranking official in the Japan Self-Defense Forces. He replaced GSDF General Ryuichi Ariki, and his Vice Chief of Staff was Kōichi Isobe. He has presided over a number of significant national security issues, including the renewed Senkaku Islands dispute and the possible revision of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution (following the Liberal Democratic Party's landslide electoral victory in December 2012).

In 2015 he was appointed an honorary Officer in the Military Division of the Order of Australia, for his role in enhancing defence engagement and practical co-operation between Australia and Japan.

Awards

 * US Legion of Merit Commander ribbon.png Legion of Merit (Commander)
 * Order of Australia (Military) ribbon.png - Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (Military Division)

Defensive memorial cordons

 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 05.svg 5th Defensive Memorial Cordon
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 02.svg 2nd Defensive Memorial Cordon
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 03.svg 3rd Defensive Memorial Cordon
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 09.svg 9th Defensive Memorial Cordon with 1 silver cherry blossom
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 11.svg 11th Defensive Memorial Cordon
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 13.svg 13th Defensive Memorial Cordon
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 14.svg 14th Defensive Memorial Cordon
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 19.svg 19th Defensive Memorial Cordon with 1 silver cherry blossom
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 20.svg 20th Defensive Memorial Cordon
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 21.svg 21st Defensive Memorial Cordon
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 22.svg 22nd Defensive Memorial Cordon
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 26.svg 26th Defensive Memorial Cordon with 2 gold cherry blossoms
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 32.svg 32nd Defensive Memorial Cordon
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 33.svg 33rd Defensive Memorial Cordon
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 36.svg 36th Defensive Memorial Cordon
 * Japan Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbon 41.svg 41st Defensive Memorial Cordon with 2 silver cherry blossoms