is a Japanese politician, scholar and critic specializing in international politics and national security. He was

Minister of Defense A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in so ...

from July to December 2012, and is professor at

Takushoku University Takushoku University (拓殖大学; ''Takushoku Daigaku'', abbreviated as 拓大 ''Takudai'') is a private university in Tokyo, Japan. It was founded in 1900 by Duke Taro Katsura (1848–1913).

and member of the Congressional Forum for New Japan.

Early life and education

Morimoto was born in

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...

on 15 March 1941. He graduated from

National Defense Academy of Japan National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...

in 1965. He received a master's degree from the

Fletcher School The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy is the graduate school of international affairs of Tufts University, in Medford, Massachusetts. The School is one of America's oldest graduate schools of international relations and is well-ranked in its ...

Tufts University Tufts University is a private research university on the border of Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1852 as Tufts College by Christian universalists who sought to provide a nonsectarian institution of higher learnin ...

in 1980.

Career

After graduation, Morimoto served with

Japan Air Self-Defense Force The , , also informally referred to as the Japanese Air Force, is the air and space branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace, other air and space operations, cyberwarfare and electronic warfa ...

until 1979 when he joined the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The enti ...

.In 1992, he left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and became a chief researcher at

Nomura Research Institute Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. (NRI; Japanese: 株式会社野村総合研究所 or 野村総研 for short) is the largest economic research and consulting firm in Japan, and a member of the Nomura Group. Established in 1965, the firm now em ...

(from 1992 to 2001). After teaching at several universities and graduate schools in Japan, Morimoto became a professor at

(International Studies). In 2005, he became the head manager of ''Institute of World Studies'' at Takushoku University. In 2016 he backs Chancellor of Takushoku University. He served as an aide to then defense minister

Yasukazu Hamada is a Japanese politician who currently serves as the Minister of Defense of Japan since August 2022, previously serving from 2008 to 2009. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he also serves in the House of Representatives, having taken ...

who served in

Taro Aso Taro () (''Colocasia esculenta)'' is a root vegetable. It is the most widely cultivated species of several plants in the family Araceae that are used as vegetables for their corms, leaves, and petioles. Taro corms are a food staple in Africa ...

's cabinet. Morimoto was appointed defense minister on 3 June 2012 in a cabinet shuffle, replacing Tanaka Naoki. He is the current Policy adviser to the Japanese Defens.e Minister He was the first non-politician defense minister of Japan and third defense minister appointed to the Noda cabinet. Morimoto is affiliated to the traditionalist lobby

Nippon Kaigi The Right side up ...

. As an international political scientists, specialised in National Security, he has attended a number of expert committees and advisory councils held by the Japanese government. He was instrumental in implementing the Three Principles (Transfer of Defence Equipment) policies in 2014, and the launch of Japan's only international defence trade show and conference, MAST Asi
www.mastconfex.com

References

1941 births Living people People from Tokyo National Defense Academy of Japan alumni The Fletcher School at Tufts University alumni Japan Air Self-Defense Force personnel Japanese diplomats Japanese political scientists Members of Nippon Kaigi Japanese defense ministers Noda cabinet Nomura Holdings {{Japan-politician-1940s-stub