The Defense Agency will appoint Adm. Kazuya Natsukawa, chief of staff of the Maritime Self-Defense Force, as the new chairman of the Joint Staff Council to succeed Gen. Shigeru Sugiyama, it was announced Oct. 3.Vice Adm. Yasumasa Yamamoto, commander of the Yokosuka district, will replace Natsukawa as MSDF chief of staff, the agency said. Vice Adm. Tadahiko Furusawa, bureau chief of the Joint Staff Council, will assume command of the Yokosuka district, and Lt. Gen. Takao Sakamaki is expected to take over Furusawa's post. All reassignments will be effective Oct. 13.Major Gen. Teruhisa Koyanagi, head of the Ground Self-Defense Force's education and training department, will also be promoted to lieutenant general.
