Colonel First Class Kuniyoshi Watanabe, Director of the International Peace Training and Research Center, Joint Staff College, Ministry of Defense

Cultivating Self-Defense Force personnel who will be active around the world, including in UN peacekeeping operations

Ministry of Defense, Joint Staff College, Director of the International Peace Training and Research Center, Lieutenant Colonel　Kuniyoshi Watanabe(Watanabe Kuniyoshi)

■ Profile
In April 2011, he was assigned to the Education and Training Department (Ichigaya) of the Ground Staff Office. He served as a deployment liaison officer for the U.S. Central Command (Florida, USA), a defense attaché at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations (New York, USA), the Ground Component Command, and commander of the 4th Artillery Group and commander of Camp Kamifurano (Kamifurano), before assuming his current position in March 2024.

■Ministry of Defense, Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center
The Self-Defense Forces not only play a vital role in national defense, but also in international peace cooperation. The Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center (JPC) is at the heart of this role. In addition to conducting research and studies, the center also trains Self-Defense Force personnel to serve around the world, including in UN peacekeeping operations.

■What kind of work do you do?

The international peace cooperation activities that the Self-Defense Forces carry out as part of their duties include international peace cooperation activities such as cooperation with United Nations peacekeeping operations (UN PKO), international emergency relief activities in response to large-scale disasters overseas, and cooperative support activities in situations requiring joint international peace response.
The role of the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center is to provide education to Ministry of Defense officials and foreign military personnel engaged in international peace cooperation activities, as well as to conduct research and studies on international peace cooperation. There are three courses in education: basic, intermediate, and advanced, and participants include members of the Self-Defense Forces and officials from related ministries and agencies, as well as international students from around the world, who learn about practical content such as peacekeeping operations.

■What is rewarding about your job?

When I worked at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York or attended international conferences, I always thought, "I'm representing Japan." Serving as a representative of Japan is a great honor, and it requires me to exercise strict self-discipline. The sense of accomplishment I get when I maximize my physical strength and abilities as a Self-Defense Force member and contribute to international peace cooperation in the field is very rewarding.
One of the rewarding aspects of working at the Japan Peacekeeping Training and Research Center is being able to share my career and experiences with students and those who will be working overseas in the future. I am teaching about discussions and decision-making from a national strategic perspective, something I realized I should have known more about when I was in charge of peacekeeping operations at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations. It is a challenging job, with manuscript preparation, speeches, keeping up with the latest information, and a wide range of management responsibilities, but that is what makes it so appealing.

What is important in cross-cultural understanding?

Working in international peace cooperation requires communication with people from various countries and regions with different cultures and customs. You will be required to verbalize your thoughts and communicate them accurately in Japanese as well as in foreign languages ​​such as English and French.
When working with people from other countries, you often realize that what you take for granted isn't always so. For example, it's common for attendees to fail to show up at the start of a meeting. In such cases, you realize that everyone is taking advantage of their busy schedules to attend the meeting, so there's no need to be on time. It's important to acknowledge differences and respond flexibly, rather than criticizing others.
At the same time, it is important to have a firm grasp on your own principles and not be swayed by a variety of opinions and information. My principles are "for Japan, for the people, and for international peace and security." If I have this principle, I can remain steadfast no matter what anyone says.

■Message to university students

In the Self-Defense Forces, you can gain a variety of experiences, including international work. It is a great honor to be able to contribute to world peace as a representative of Japan. I would like to tell those who are aiming to become Self-Defense Force members that "you will surely be able to find a job or department where you can make use of your strengths."
Finally, what is important for the future of international peace cooperation is to have a broad perspective. There are many areas around the world that are in dire straits, even if they are not much covered in the Japanese media.
I felt this gap when I returned to Japan after working at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations in New York. I believe that if you broaden your perspective and realize, "Oh, so this is what's happening in the world," you will find commonalities and differences, which will lead to new realizations and discoveries.

Student Newspaper, October 1, 2024 Issue, Waseda University, 10th Year, Nishimura Natsu

Suzuki Yusuke, 4th year at Hosei University / Nishimura Natsu, 4th year at Waseda University / Koshiyama Rinno, 2nd year at Toyo University / Amie Hinata, 3rd year at Sophia University / Teranishi Shion, 2nd year at Kokugakuin University / Ishikawa Akira, 2nd year at N High School