Chief of Staff, Joint Staff

The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff (統合幕僚長) is the highest-ranking military officer and is the head of the Operational Authority (command) over the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). He or she assists the Minister of Defense on all matters with regards to the JSDF, and executes orders of the Minister of Defense, with directions from the Prime Minister.

The current Chief of Staff, Joint Staff is Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano.

Structure
The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff is the head of the Joint Staff (統合幕僚監部), which consists of an Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, the Vice Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, an Administrative Vice Chief of Staff, as well as numerous departments and special staffs.

The Chief of Staff, Joint Staff supervises the service branches operations of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, and would assume command in the event of a war, but his or her powers are limited to policy formation and defense coordination during peacetime. The chain of Operational Authority runs from the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff to the Commanders of the several Operational Commands.

Each service branch is headed by their respective Chiefs of Staff, who have administrative control over their own services.