# Kuniharu Kakihara Associate Fellow, Harvard University Asia Center; Retired Lieutenant General, Japan Air Self-Defense Force. ![Headshot of Kuniharu Kakihara.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8416/files/styles/hwp_4_5__480x600/public/2025-07/kakihara-kuniharu.jpg?itok=k85Y7V9b) email **Research Project:** Theories of Victory and the U.S.-China Strategic Rivalry Lt. Gen (ret.). Kuniharu Kakihara graduated from the National Defense Academy, and holds a M.A. in Area Studies from the University of Tsukuba and M.S. in National Security Strategy from the U.S. National Defense University. He is currently a researcher at Fujitsu's National Security Institute and Institute of Geoeconomics. In the JASDF, he served in key leadership roles, including Commander of the Air Development and Test Command, Commandant of Air Command and Staff College, and Chief of Staff at the Air Defense Command. His research examines Japan’s National Defense Strategy (NDS), focusing on international security issues. He has written several papers, including “Counterbalancing China: Improving the Effectiveness of Resilient Response and Deterrence by Allied Forces,” in *JAAS Asia Kenkyu* (2015). - ## People Categories [Associates and Postdoctoral Fellows 2025-26](/2025-26) [Associates](/people-categories/associate)