Koichiro Matsumoto
Koichiro joined the JIIA in July 2023 after 25 years of service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA). He was formerly Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Public Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), overseeing government-wide public relations issues under the leaderships of three prime ministers (Mr Shinzo Abe, Mr Yoshihide Suga and Mr Fumio Kishida). During his tenure at the PMO, he made numerous appearances in the foreign media including BBC World (Live with Lucy Hockings, etc), Sky News (Breakfast with Kay Burley), BBC Radio (News Hour), Al Jazeera, Euronews, WION India, CNA Singapore, EFE, and RAI. Prior to the appointment he was Counsellor at the National Security Secretariat (NSS) in charge of maritime security, focusing on the conceptualization of free and open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) at the Cabinet Secretariat under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
He is a graduate of Keio University (B.A. Law) and University of Oxford (Trinity College. M.A. Modern History) and currently teaches international economic law at his alma mater, Keio University.