Mr. KITAMURA Shigeru (born December 27, 1956) is the former National Security Advisor of the Government of Japan, known as the Secretary-General of National Security Secretariat (NSS), appointed in September 2019. He took lead in establishing the Economic Section in the NSS in April 2020. He previously served as the Director of Cabinet Intelligence during both the Democratic Party of Japan and Liberal Democratic Party administrations, from December 2011 to September 2019 (from the first Noda cabinet to the fourth Abe Cabinet.) His role in establishing the Specially Designated Secrets Act in 2013 is one of his key achievements during his tenure.
Since joining the National Police Agency (NPA) in 1980, Mr. Kitamura held several key positions within the Japan Police and the intelligence community, such as the Director-General of Foreign Affairs and Intelligence Department of the NPA from April 2010 to October 2011. He also served as an Executive Assistant to the Prime Minister during the first tenure of the former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo, from September 2006 to September 2007.
Mr. KITAMURA graduated from the University of Tokyo and was trained in the ENA (Ecole Nationale d’Administration) in France. From February 1992 to March 1994, he served as the Attaché charged with internal affairs, security, and intelligence in the Embassy of Japan in Paris.
In 2020, he was awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service by the Government of the United States of America for recognition of his outstanding achievement in strengthening the Japan-United States alliance.
In 2021, he was also awarded the Australian Intelligence Medal (AIM) by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia for outstanding contributions to Japan -Australia cooperation in the field of intelligence.
In 2022, he was further awarded the Officier de l’Ordre de la Légion d’Honneur by the French Republic for his significant contribution to strengthening cooperation between Japan and France in the Indo-Pacific region.