Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office
Template:Multiple issues Template:Infobox government agency Template:Short description The Template:Nihongo,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> also known as Template:Nihongo,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is the national civilian intelligence agency under the Japanese Cabinet Secretariat tasked with advancing national security through collecting and analyzing intelligence from around the world and conducting clandestine operation and covert operations, countering hybrid threats, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, intelligence gathering, and threat assessment to national security.
The agency is responsibles for analysis and development intelligence gathering and counterintelligence systems to create national security, civilian intelligence cybersecurity, clandestine and covert operations, countering hybrid threats, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, creation a civilian security network intelligence, intelligence gathering and assessment national security information for the Cabinet of Japan, national's central intelligence affair for coordinating intelligence activities, secures information and documents related to disasters and other emergencies, and threat assessment to national security.
As a principal member of the Japanese intelligence community, the CIRO reports directly to the Prime Minister of Japan. Its operations are mandated through the Cabinet Law.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The agency is said to be equivalent to the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).<ref name="History">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Like most intelligence agencies in Japan, its personnel are usually recruited from other agencies.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Around 100 out of 170 CIRO agents are from other agencies/ministries with top positions occupied by career police officers.<ref name="DaviesandGustafson">Davis and Gustafson, page. 183.</ref> The CIRO frequently works with the National Security Council (NSCJ) as a communication channel to the prime minister.
The CIRO is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, in a building called "H20".<ref name="intercept"/>
History
The CIRO was created by the Allied Forces through the formation of the Template:Nihongo in April 1952 with Jun Murai as the first director in an attempt to replicate its structure after the CIA.<ref name="DaviesandGustafson"/> But due to widespread opposition and the factionalism in the bureaucracy, this plan was discarded.<ref name="DaviesandGustafson"/> The RO was placed under jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's office in 1957 and was known as the Template:Nihongo.<ref name="STIMSON"/> The CRO was later renamed as the CIRO in 1986.<ref name="STIMSON"/>
The Cabinet Intensive Information Center was established on April 11, 1996 to ensure that the CIRO can inform the Prime Minister in case of severe emergencies.<ref name="History"/> It's located in the Prime Minister's residence.<ref name="History"/>
In August 2007, discussions of intelligence reforms through the paper Improvement of Counter-Intelligence Functions resulted in the establishment of the Counterintelligence Center.<ref name="DaviesandGustafson1">Davis and Gustafson, page. 188.</ref> It's been suggested that the CIC can be used as the basis for the creation of an actual external intelligence agency similar to the CIA.<ref>Yukio Kubota “Spin Doctor “Information Manipulation” Techniques Used by Professional Fir Erasers” Kodansha+α Shinsho p.101</ref>
In 2013, CIRO satellite imagery analysis was used to assist NGOs in Tacloban for reconstruction work in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Since 2015, CIRO agents are usually recruited to be sent to the International Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Collection Unit.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2016, the business magazine Facta reported that the government of Shinzo Abe had directed the CIRO to spy on a legal council connected to David Kaye, who as U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of expression stated "deep and genuine concern" on declining media independence in Japan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On January 12, 2024, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center announced that the launch of the Optical-8 satellite was a success, which separated from the missile and has entered orbit.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On October 24, 2025, it's reported that CIRO would be potentially restructured.<ref>https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20251024-288355/</ref>
Spy scandal
On January 17, 2008, an official of Naichō was charged for spying for Russians, passing them classified information. The Russians denied the claim.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Since then, there had been calls for greater accountability on Naichō.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Organization
According to its official web site, the organization of Naichō is as follows:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Template:Nihongo
- Template:Nihongo
- Cabinet Intelligence Officer
- Divisions:
- Template:Nihongo: Has Human Resources, Budget and academic experts.
- Template:Nihongo: Collect information based on domestic media, including newspapers, magazines and from news broadcasts.
- Template:Nihongo: Collect information based on foreign media and broadcasts from another country, including CIRO agents based overseas.
- Template:Nihongo: Studies domestic/international economic information.
- Template:Nihongo: Secures information and documents related to disasters and other emergencies. Staffed by twenty agents from the Ministry of Defense, National Police Agency, Fire Disaster and Management Agency and the Japan Coast Guard.
- Template:Nihongo
- Template:Nihongo: Operates a network of surveillance satellites, such as the Information Gathering Satellite (IGS)-Optical and IGS-Radar series. As of June 2018, Japan has six functioning observation satellites in orbit.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was established in 2001 and has 320 personnel employed with at least 100 of them being imagery intelligence analysts.<ref name="DaviesandGustafson"/> Tasked with obtaining and analyzing satellite imagery data.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Deputy Director position is filled by a senior officer from the NPA.<ref>Dover, Goodman and Hillebrand, page 203</ref>
- Situation Center of Cabinet
- Template:Nihongo: Coordinates government action based on the "Improvement of Counter-Intelligence Functions" policy.
- Cabinet Counter Terrorism Intelligence Coordination Center
Directors of Naichō
- Yoshio Omori (March 1993 - April 1997)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Kazuhiro Sugita (January 2001 – April 2001)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Toshinori Kanemoto (April 2001 – April 2006)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Hideshi Mitani (April 2006 – April 2010)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Shinichi Uematsu (April 2010 – December 2011)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Shigeru Kitamura (December 2011 – September 2019)<ref name="intercept">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Hiroaki Takizawa (September 2019 – June 2023)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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- Kazuya Hara (June 2023 – present)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
References
Bibliography
External links
Template:External national intelligence agencies Template:Japanese intelligence agencies