Mr. Kotani is a special research fellow at the Okazaki Institute. He is also a senior research fellow at the Research Institute for Peace and Security, and a member of the International Advisory Council. He was a visiting fellow at the U.S.-Japan Center at Vanderbilt University, and in 2003 won the Japanese Defense Minister’s Prize. He is the author of Umino Anzenhosho [maritime security] and his English publications include Presence and Credibility: Homeporting USS MIDWAY at Yokosuka, and Turbulent Changes: The Democratic Party Government and Japan`s Foreign Policy.