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Takahashi Kosuke

Takahashi Kosuke is Tokyo Correspondent for The Diplomat.

Takahashi Kosuke is former Tokyo Correspondent for Janes Defence Weekly and former editor-in-chief of HuffPost Japan. He also was a former staff writer at The Asahi Shimbun and Bloomberg.

Takahashi graduated from Keio University with a B.A. in economics in 1993. After working for The Asahi Shimbun and Dow Jones, he studied at Columbia University’s Journalism School and School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and graduated with Master of Science in Journalism and Master of International Affairs in 2004. Prior to joining the Asahi as a reporter in 1993, he worked for Baltimore Economic Development Corporation as an exchange trainee to a sister city program of Kawasaki City, and researched trade issues between the United States and Japan. He was awarded an Honorary citizenship of Baltimore for his work in 1988.

Posts by Takahashi Kosuke

April 15, 2022

Japan Scrambled Fighter Jets to Intercept Foreign Aircraft Over 1,000 Times in FY2021

By Kosuke Takahashi

It was the second highest number of scrambles in a single year, representing the worsening security environment surrounding Japan.

March 22, 2022

Japan Commissions First New Mogami-Class Multirole Frigate

By Kosuke Takahashi

The Kumano is the first of a planned 22 vessels of the class, which will include capabilities never seen before on a Japanese frigate.

March 09, 2022

Japan Commissions First New Taigei-Class Diesel-Electric Attack Submarine

By Kosuke Takahashi

Submarine-launched missiles could give Tokyo the much-debated “enemy base attack capability.”

February 18, 2022

Japan, UK to Collaborate on Future Fighter Sensor Development

By Kosuke Takahashi

The deal is just the latest in a string of defense projects undertaken by the “quasi-alliance.”

February 04, 2022

F-15 Crash Highlights Japan’s Aging Aircraft

By Kosuke Takahashi

The incident casts a shadow on the pace of Japan’s F-15 upgrade program.

December 27, 2021

Japan Approves Record Defense Budget for Fiscal Year 2022

By Kosuke Takahashi

Tokyo is striving to keep pace with China.

December 10, 2021

Japan’s MHI Launches Fourth Mogami-Class Multirole Frigate for JMSDF

By Kosuke Takahashi

The new frigate class is intended for surveillance missions in waters surrounding the Japanese archipelago, including the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea.

November 26, 2021

Japan Approves Record Extra Defense Budget

By Kosuke Takahashi

Amid growing threats in East Asia, the Japanese cabinet approved a record extra budget for defense appropriations.

April 04, 2014

Abe’s Diplomatic Backtrack

By Kosuke Takahashi

Japan’s nationalist prime minister tries to ease tensions with his East Asian neighbors.

February 13, 2014

Shinzo Abe’s Nationalist Strategy

By Kosuke Takahashi

With his overt nationalism and his historical revisionism, Shinzo Abe has a plan for Japan.

July 19, 2012

What’s Going On In North Korea?

By Kosuke Takahashi

Changes at the top in Pyongyang? Disney characters on display? Is Kim Jong-un tightening his grip on power? Kosuke Takahashi reports.

May 18, 2012

Japan’s Persistent “Ameriphobia”

By Kosuke Takahashi

Japan has long been a key part of the U.S. Pacific strategy. But for many Okinawans, the military “occupation” has gone on too long.