Shigeru Kitamura
Senior Advisor
Shigeru Kitamura serves as Senior Advisor at American Global Strategies. Mr. Kitamura brings expertise from the highest levels of the Japanese government, national security, intelligence, economic security, and Indo-Pacific affairs to AGS’ international and national security work.
Mr. Kitamura is the former National Security Advisor of the Government of Japan, known formally as the Secretary-General of the National Security Secretariat, a position to which he was appointed in September 2019. He led the establishment of the Economic Section within the National Security Secretariat in April 2020.
He previously served as Director of Cabinet Intelligence during both Democratic Party of Japan and Liberal Democratic Party administrations, from December 2011 to September 2019, spanning the first Noda Cabinet through the fourth Abe Cabinet. His role in establishing the Specially Designated Secrets Act in 2013 was one of his key achievements during his tenure.
Since joining Japan’s National Police Agency in 1980, Mr. Kitamura has held several senior positions within the Japanese police and intelligence communities, including serving as Director-General of the Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Department of the National Police Agency from April 2010 to October 2011. He also served as Executive Assistant to the Prime Minister during the first tenure of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, from September 2006 to September 2007.
Mr. Kitamura graduated from the University of Tokyo and trained at the École Nationale d’Administration in France. From February 1992 to March 1994, he served as Attaché for internal affairs, security, and intelligence at the Embassy of Japan in Paris.
In 2020, Mr. Kitamura was awarded the U.S. Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service in recognition of his outstanding achievement in strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance.
In 2021, he was awarded the Australian Intelligence Medal by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia for his contributions to Japan-Australia cooperation in intelligence.
In 2022, he was awarded the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honour by the French Republic for his significant contribution to strengthening cooperation between Japan and France in the Indo-Pacific region.
