Greetings from the NDA President

President　YOSHIDA Yoshihide,
National Defense Academy of Japan

Thank you for visiting our website.

Having assumed the post as of April 1, it is my honor to be able to serve as the 11th President of this prestigious institute, the National Defense Academy(NDA) of Japan. The Academy has chosen, for the first time in its history, a career officer of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) - one who has worked his way through the ranks from a junior officer all the way to a fulfilled retirement. I understand that great expectations are placed on myself to serve as an exemplary role model for the cadets, not only as an JSDF officer, but also through the example I set throughout my life as a veteran, and look forward to continue striving for self-improvement alongside the cadets.

As much as it is a great honor to take on the role of an educator, a position I have long aspired to, I am also acutely aware of the weight of responsibility of developing and parenting the youth who hold the future of this nation at this "time of turbulence" where we are witnessing a world-history 'crisis.'

With the onset of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the international community has entered an era of "power politics," reminiscent of E.H. Carr's classic, "The Twenty Years' Crisis," which refers to the interwar period of the two World Wars. The coming forty years that the current cadets will face will likely be far more challenging than the forty years I had spent as a member of JSDF.

Initially named the "National Safety Academy," our school welcomed its first cohort of cadets in April 1953 under the first president, Tomoo Maki. It was founded with the hope of rebuilding our country together with the people, after the suffering of defeat in the war. The founding spirit, known as "Maki-ism," which seeks broad perspectives, scientific thinking, and rich humanity from cadets, continues to shine until this very day (or should we say even more, in these difficult times.) For over seventy years since then, our graduates have continued to fulfill their "responsibility of the times" as senior JSDF officers. The future NDA cadets, living in this time of unrest, shall be executing this same responsibility as they follow the footsteps of their seniors and strive to become officers.

The education provided at our institution has, as its inherent characteristic, a duality of higher education equivalent to that of civilian universities and cadets' education seen in other countries. In the former, emphasis is placed particularly on intellectual cultivation, referred to as "liberal arts" in "Maki-ism". In the latter, we aim for the development of a sense of responsibility commensurate with one's position, known as "noblesse oblige" in Maki's concept. These will become the essential foundation for leaders who shall be facing future challenges.

Upon my appointment, I proclaimed the vision for the Academy as "a free and open NDA based on autonomy and self-discipline." Many of you will recognize that this is an adaptation of the international political concept, 'the free and open international order based on the rule of law,' made to suit our objective. (Further explanation of this vision will be found in my Inaugural Address

The rapidly advancing "Fourth Industrial Revolution," led by artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies, has an impact that changes the very structure of society. As we seek life of collaboration between humans and AI, the most important role of humans that cannot be replaced by AI is 'leadership'. (For further details, please refer to the Address at the Matriculation Ceremony.) Nurturing the foundation of leadership that faces turbulent waves of the international society and ventures to carve out a new era, I firmly believe that the significance of the Academy will be recognized more deeply and widely as we move forward, both domestically and internationally. This precisely is the "NDA brand" – a beacon for the future.

Building on the traditions of more than seventy years established by those who came before us, our faculty, staff and cadets will work together as 'Team Obaradai' to add a new chapter to the history of the Academy, adding a new brilliance that will help lay the foundation of our nation's future.

We warmly invite your continued interest and support in the National Defense Academy as we move forward to the future.

April 10, 2026

Yoshihide YOSHIDA

11th President of the National Defense Academy of Japan