KEIO RESEARCHERS INFORMATION SYSTEM

Profile Summary 【 Display / hide 】

Profile Summary 【 Display / hide 】

• After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1993, he joined the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). He completed a master’s degree at the National Defense Academy of Japan in 2007. In 2015, he completed the coursework for the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, and in 2018 received a Ph.D. in Media and Governance from the same institution. During his JMSDF career, he served in a number of positions, including Commanding Officer of JS Matsuyuki, Defense Attaché in the UK, Commander of Escort Division Two, Director of the Maritime Defense Strategy Office at the Maritime Staff Office, and Director of the Department of Defense Strategy Education and Research at the JMSDF Command and Staff College. He retired from the JMSDF in December 2024 with the rank of Captain. Since April 2025, he has held his current position. His areas of research: Defense and Security, Strategy, Military History, Leadership
  His major publications include Intellectual Innovation in Military Organizations: The Creative Power of Doctrine and Operational Art (Keiso Shobo, 2020, sole-authored) etc.

Career 【 Display / hide 】

Career 【 Display / hide 】

• 1993.06

  -

  2024.12

  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

• 2025.04

  -

  Present

  　Keio University, Faculty of Policy Management

Academic Background 【 Display / hide 】

Academic Background 【 Display / hide 】

• 1989.07

  -

  1993.05

  United States Naval Academy

  University, Graduated, Other

• 2005.04

  -

  2007.03

  National Defense Academy , School of Security Studies

  Graduate School, Completed, Master's course

• 2012.04

  -

  2015.03

  Keio University, Graduate School of Media and Governance

  Graduate School, Withdrawal after completion of doctoral course requirements, Doctoral course

Academic Degrees 【 Display / hide 】

Academic Degrees 【 Display / hide 】

• Bachelor of Science, United States Naval Academy, Coursework, 1993.05

• Master in Security Studies, National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement for Higher Education, National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation, 2007.03

• Ph.D (Media and Governance）, Keio University, Coursework, 2018.02

  Problem Solving Methdology of Military Organizations (Higher Education, Doctrine, Operational Art)

Research Areas 【 Display / hide 】

Research Areas 【 Display / hide 】

• Humanities & Social Sciences / International relations (Defense and Security, Strategy, Military History, Leadership)

Research Keywords 【 Display / hide 】

Research Keywords 【 Display / hide 】

• Defense and Security, Strategy, Military History, Leadership

Books 【 Display / hide 】

Books 【 Display / hide 】

• Contemporary Military Theory: The Dynamics of War

  Keiso Shobo, 2021.01

  Original author： Jan Angstrom and J.J. Widen

• Intellectual Innovation of Military Organizations: Creative power of Doctrine and Operational Art

  Keizo Kitagawa, Keiso Shobo, 2020.03

• Technology changes War and Peace

  Narushige Michishita ed., Fuyo Shobo, 2018.09

• Strategy and the Sea

  Benjamin Darnell, Evan Wilson ed, Boydell Press, 2016.06

  , Accepted

• America as the Maritime Nation-Road to Pax Americana

  Naoyuki Agawa, Masayuki Tadokoro ed., Chikura Shobo, 2013.10

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Papers 【 Display / hide 】

Papers 【 Display / hide 】

• Operational Art and Campaigns of Japanese and US Navies in Pacific War

  Keizo Kitagawa

  Journal of Military History 61 ( 1,2 )  2025.08

  Research paper (scientific journal), Corresponding author, Accepted

• Essentials of Military Organizations : Operational Art and Doctrine

  Keizo Kitagawa

  JMSDF Command and Staff College Review 10 ( 2 )  2020.12

  Research paper (bulletin of university, research institution), Single Work, Corresponding author, Accepted

• From Japanese Navy to JMSDF: Foundation of intellectual tradition

  Keizo Kitagawa

  JMSDF Command and Staff College Review 7 ( 1 )  2017.06

  Research paper (bulletin of university, research institution), Corresponding author, Accepted

• Evolution of British Armed Forces as Intellectual Organization

  北川　敬三

  Journal of Defense Studies  ( 56 )  2017.03

  Research paper (scientific journal), Corresponding author, Accepted

• Operational Art as Security Studies: Its meaning and necessity

  Keizo Kitagawa

  The Journal of International Security 44 ( 4 )  2017.03

  Research paper (scientific journal), Single Work, Corresponding author, Accepted

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Reviews, Commentaries, etc. 【 Display / hide 】

Reviews, Commentaries, etc. 【 Display / hide 】

• Strategic Significance of CSG25

  Keizo Kitagawa

  Ships of the World (海人社)   ( 1057 ) 102 - 109 2026.03

  Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (trade magazine, newspaper, online media), Corresponding author

• トランプ氏が動員する「州兵」とは何かー浮き彫りになる政軍関係の強さと弱さ

  北川　敬三

  Foresight (新潮社)   2025.09

  Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (trade magazine, newspaper, online media), Corresponding author

• 「海上自衛隊基本ドクトリン」に見る歴史とイノベーション：考える組織の条件

  北川　敬三

  Ships of the World (海人社)   ( 1045 ) 189 - 195 2025.08

  Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (trade magazine, newspaper, online media), Corresponding author

• わたしの五省　

  北川　敬三

  J Ships (イカロス出版)   ( 123 ) 88 - 89 2025.08

  Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (trade magazine, newspaper, online media), Corresponding author

• 素顔のイギリス海軍：防衛駐在官時代の思い出

  Keizo Kitagawa

  Ships of the World (Kaijin sha)   ( 1044 ) 98 - 101 2025.08

  Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (trade magazine, newspaper, online media), Corresponding author

Presentations 【 Display / hide 】

Presentations 【 Display / hide 】

• UK Aircraft Carrier visit to Japan and its Strategic Implications

  Keizo Kitagawa

  [Domestic presentation]  Society of Strategic Studies Regular Research Meeting , 

  2025.11

• Thinking dialogue between Military Historian and Pure Historian

  Keizo Kitagawa

  [Domestic presentation]  Society of Military History Annual Conference, 

  2018.05

  , 

  Oral presentation (general)

• Military Organization and Methodology

  Keizo Kitagawa

  [Domestic presentation]  Society of Strategic Studies research meeting, 

  2018.04

  , 

  Oral presentation (keynote)

• Naval Intellectualism and the Imperial Japanese Navy

  Keizo Kitagawa

  [International presentation]  Oxford University Naval History Conference, 

  2014.04

  , 

  Oral presentation (general)

• New US Maritime Strategy and 21st Century Sea Power

  Keizo Kitagawa

  [Domestic presentation]  Annual Conference for the Society of International Security, 

  2008.10

  , 

  Oral presentation (general)

Courses Taught 【 Display / hide 】

Courses Taught 【 Display / hide 】

• STATE AND DEFENCE

  2025

• SEMINAR B

  2025

• MASTER SEMINAR

  2025

• INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

  2025

• GRADUATION PROJECT 2

  2025

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Social Activities 【 Display / hide 】

Social Activities 【 Display / hide 】

• Japan’s Changing Security Environment and National Security Strategy

  Indiana University Bloomington,  21st Century Japan Politics and Society Initiative, 

  , 

  2026.03

• 29th Indo Pacific Naval College Seminar

  JMSDF Command and Staff College

  , 

  2026.02

• 安全保障のイノベーション

  経営者イノベーション委員会（EIC）, フューチャー・イノベーション・ラウンドテーブル, 

  , 

  2026.02

• 米国はもう守らない？トランプ新戦略が日本に迫る「防衛費GDP5%」と自立、慶大・北川敬三教授が警告する未来

  JBプレス

  2026.01

• Protecting Critical Underwater Infrastructure in Japan: Policy Responses, Operational Measures, and Nordic–Baltic Comparisons

  ICDS, ICDS Webinar: Critical Underwater Infrastructure Security and Protection in Japan and in the Nordic-Baltic Region, 

  , 

  2025.11

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Memberships in Academic Societies 【 Display / hide 】

Memberships in Academic Societies 【 Display / hide 】

• Society of Defense Studies, 

  2014.03

  -

  Present

• Society of Military History, 

  2007.03

  -

  Present

• Society of Strategic Studies, 

  2007.03

  -

  Present

• Society of International Security, 

  2007.03

  -

  Present

• U.S. Naval Institute, 

  1989.10

  -

  Present