Hiroaki Uchikura

is a Japanese military general who serves as the incumbent Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. General Uchikura previously served as the Chief of the Air Staff of the JASDF, commander of the Air Defense Command, and as wing commander of the 5th Air Wing.

Born and raised from Tarumizu, Kagoshima, Uchikura served into various positions in the Air Self-Defense Force and later served as a fighter pilot flying the Mitsubishi F-15J. Uchikura later served into various administrative and staff positions within the Air Self Defense Force Staff Office and the Ministry of Defense, both being located in Ichigaya, Shinjuku, before being named in major positions such as being the commander of the Air Defense Command and later as the Chief of the Air Staff in March 2023.

Early life and education Uchikura was born 11 January 1965 at Tarumizu City in Kagoshima Prefecture. Uchikura later completed his high school at the Kanoya High School in Kanoya City and later entered the National Defense Academy of Japan, where he graduated as part of the 31st class in 1987.

Uchikura later became a Federal Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., USA in 2010 and also completed the Generals, Flag officers, and Ambassadors Course at the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy. On 30 March 2023, then-Lieutenant General Uchikura eventually succeeded General Shunji Izutsu as the Chief of the Air Staff, JASDF, and was later promoted to the rank of General. During his term as the Chief of the Air Staff, Uchikura continued to boost the importance of cooperation and collaboration of the JASDF to other air forces in the Asia-Pacific Region and beyond, such as his visit to the Allied Air Command at the Ramstein Air Base, Germany on 10 November 2023, where he boosted collaboration activities with NATO air force officials for future operational planning activities in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On 13 to 14 June 2024, Uchikura serves as the first JASDF official to visit Palau to boost security cooperation activities between Japan and Palau.

On 15 to 23 July 2024, General Uchikura participated on the 2024 Global Air and Space Chiefs’ Conference and attended the Royal International Air Tattoo to boost collaboration and trust between various air forces, such as the attending trilateral meetings between air force chiefs of Japan, UK, and Italy; and between Japan, US, and Australia. On 22 to 25 July 2024, Uchikura oversaw the first Nippon Skies exercise between the German Air Force and the JASDF, and was later awarded the Gold Cross of Honour of the Bundeswehr for his contributions and leadership in enhancing the ties of the German Air Force and the JASDF. On 25 July 2025, General Uchikura also oversaw the bilateral exercises between the JASDF and the French Air and Space Force, and the trilateral exercises between the JASDF, the German Air Force, and the Spanish Air and Space Force. As ASDF Chief Uchikura also oversaw increasing incursions of Chinese military aircraft within the Japan Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea. On 27 to 29 November 2024, General Uchikura made his visit to the Philippines where he boosted collaboration and cooperation efforts between the JASDF and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with his meetings with AFP officials such as AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force Lieutenant General Stephen Parreño, and other high-ranking officials.

In the aftermath of a cabinet meeting held on 15 July 2025, General Uchikura was named as the new Chief of Staff, Joint Staff after his predecessor General Yoshihide Yoshida resigned from his post after witnessing the creation and activation of the Joint Operations Command and to give way for a potential successor. Uchikura is later revealed to be the second main contender for the post after former Maritime Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Admiral Ryō Sakai, who resigned on 19 July 2024 after being charged of misconduct due to Sakai's mishandling of classified information.

Dates of promotion

Awards from military service

Self-Defense Forces Service Ribbons

Foreign medals

Personal life Uchikura is married to Shihomi Uchikura, and they have 2 children. His interests include playing and watching football.