Mr. Kotani is a research fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs and teaches at Hosei University in Tokyo. His research focus is the U.S.-Japan alliance and maritime security. He is also a senior research fellow at the Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS) in Tokyo, and a member of the International Advisory Board at the Project 2049 Institute in Washington. He received a security studies fellowship from RIPS in 2006-2008. He won the 2003 Japanese Defense Minister Prize. He has published numerous articles both in English and Japanese, and is preparing his first book on maritime security.