Satoshi Morimoto
{{short description|Japanese scholar and politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Satoshi Morimoto
|native_name = {{nobold|森本 敏}}
|native_name_lang = ja
|image = Satoshi Morimoto at the Pentagon August 3, 2012 crop.jpg
|caption = Morimoto in 2012
|office = Minister of Defense
|primeminister = Yoshihiko Noda
|term_start = 3 June 2012
|term_end = 26 December 2012
|predecessor = Naoki Tanaka
|successor = Itsunori Onodera
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1941|3|15|df=y}}
|death_date =
|death_place =
|branch = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.svg}} Japan Air Self-Defense Force
|serviceyears = 1965–1979
|party = Independent
|alma_mater = National Defense Academy of Japan
Tufts University
|website = [http://www.office-morimoto.net Official webpage]
|signature = Satoshi Morimoto signature.svg
}}
{{nihongo|Satoshi Morimoto|森本 敏|Morimoto Satoshi|extra=born 15 March 1941}} is a Japanese politician, scholar and critic specializing in international politics and national security. He was Minister of Defense from July to December 2012, and is professor at Takushoku University and member of the Congressional Forum for New Japan.
Early life and education
Morimoto was born in Tokyo on 15 March 1941.{{cite news|title=Noda Cabinet|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cabinet/cabinet.html?formed=20110902_01&date=&member=28|accessdate=5 January 2013|newspaper=The Japan Times|date=2012}} He graduated from National Defense Academy of Japan in 1965. He received a master's degree from the Fletcher School at Tufts University in 1980.
Career
After graduation, Morimoto served with Japan Air Self-Defense Force until 1979 when he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.In 1992, he left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and became a chief researcher at Nomura Research Institute (from 1992 to 2001). After teaching at several universities and graduate schools in Japan, Morimoto became a professor at Takushoku University (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 who served in Taro Aso's cabinet. Morimoto was appointed defense minister on 3 June 2012 in a cabinet shuffle, replacing Tanaka Naoki.{{cite news|last=Wallace|first=Corey|title=Japan's New Defense Minister: Morimoto Satoshi|url=http://jsw.newpacificinstitute.org/?p=10316|accessdate=5 January 2013|newspaper=Japan Security Watch|date=3 June 2012}} He is the current Policy adviser to the Japanese Defense Minister.
He was the first non-politician defense minister of Japan and third defense minister appointed to the Noda cabinet.{{cite news|last=Simpson|first=James|title=Tanaka Out, Morimoto In: Noda's 3rd Defense Minister|url=http://jsw.newpacificinstitute.org/?p=10310|accessdate=5 January 2013|newspaper=Japan Security Watch|date=3 June 2012}} Morimoto is affiliated with the traditionalist lobby Nippon Kaigi.Nippon Kaigi website
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.{{Cite web|url=http://japan.kantei.go.jp/noda/meibo/daijin/morimoto_e.html|title=Satoshi MORIMOTO (The Cabinet) {{!}} Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet|website=japan.kantei.go.jp|language=en|access-date=2018-01-24}}{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}
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 Asia. [http://www.mastconfex.com www.mastconfex.com]
References
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{{s-bef|before=Naoki Tanaka}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Defence|years=June–December 2012}}
{{s-aft|after=Itsunori Onodera}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morimoto, Satoshi}}
Category:National Defense Academy of Japan alumni
Category:The Fletcher School at Tufts University alumni
Category:Japan Air Self-Defense Force personnel
Category:Japanese political scientists
Category:Members of Nippon Kaigi
Category:Ministers of defense of Japan
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