Kōji Yamazaki

Chief of Staff Koji Yamazaki shakes hands with Lt. Gen. Lawrence D. Nicholson of the III Marine Expeditionary Force (2017)

Gen. Koji Yamazaki, with US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley and South Korean Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Park Han-ki at a multilateral meeting at Washington, D.C.

He graduated from the National Defense Academy of Japan from the 27th semester of the Civil Engineering Department in March 1983, and started his career as a Military Engineer, and later held various key positions in the engineering field, such as the Chief, 1st Personnel Section, Assignment Division, Personnel Department, Ground Staff Office in 2003. He also served as a Researcher in the Ground Research & Development Command, and Director, Logistics Management Division, Logistics Department, Ground Staff Office in 2006. He also served as the Commanding General of the 4th Engineer Brigade in 2008.

He also completed the Ranger Course of the JGSDF and he also studied at the National War College at Washington, D.C. in the United States in 2005. He served as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Western Army in 2010; became Director General, Personnel Department, Ground Staff Office in 2012; became commander of the 9th Division in August 2014; became Vice Chief of Staff, Joint Staff in 2015; and became commander of the Northern Army in 2016.

He became the Chief of the Ground Staff of the JGSDF on 2017, after the resignation of General Toshiya Okabe and former Defense Minister Tomomi Inada amidst claims over a cover up scandal within the Ministry of Defense exposing the danger Japanese peacekeepers faced in South Sudan.[2] He was appointed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff in April 2019, replacing Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano.[3]

• March 1983: Graduated from the National Defense Academy of Japan (27th term) and joined the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
• July 1997 (Heisei 9): Promoted to lieutenant colonel
• March 2001: Commander of the 8th Facility Battalion and Facility Manager of the 8th Division (Japan) headquarters and Sendai garrison commander
• January 2002 (Heisei 14): promoted to colonel
  • August: Affairs Section, Ground Staff Office, Human Resources Department
• August 2003: Leader, 1st Personnel Division, Personnel Division, Ground Staff Staff
• April 2005: With Central Archives (studied in the United States Army War College)
• August 2006: Ground Self-Defense Force Research Division researcher
  • December: Ground Planning Officer, Equipment Planning Equipment Manager
• August 1, 2008: Promoted to deputy major general, Commander of Facility No. 4 and Commander of Okubo Garrison
• June 8, 2010: Deputy Chief of Staff for the Western Army (Japan)
• July 26, 2012: Director of Human Resources, Ground Staff
• August 5, 2014: Promotion to lieutenant general, 9th Division (Japan) Commander
• March 30, 2015: Joint Staff Staff Deputy Director
• July 1, 2016: Appointed the 36th General Director of the Northern District
• August 8, 2017: Appointed 35th Chief of Ground Staff
• April 1, 2019: Became the 6th Chief of Staff, Joint Staff.[4]

• Legion of Merit (Commander)
• Meritorious Service Medal
• Officer, Legion of Honour
• JGSDF Ranger Badge
• Order of Saint Maurice (Peregrinus)