Experts
Senior Fellow
Shuichi Iwanami
Expertise/Areas of interest
Maritime Safety and Security/Global Maritime Order
Academic/Professional Background
Shuichi Iwanami graduated from the Japan Coast Guard Academy in 1981 and obtained a Master’s degree in Economics from Tsukuba University in 1989.
He has served not only at the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) but also in the Minister’s Secretariat of the Ministry of Transport and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Japanese Embassy in the Netherlands.
His career includes positions such as Director of Tsuruga Coast Guard Office, Director-General of the Guard and Rescue Department (GRD) of the 5th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters (RCGHqs), Director of the Security Division of the GRD of the JCG, Vice Commander of the 3rd RCGHqs, Commander of the 2nd RCGHqs, Director-General of the GRD of the JCG, and Vice Commandant for Operations of the JCG.
In July 2018, he was appointed as the 45th Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard, serving until his retirement in January 2020.
From August 2020 to September 2024, he served at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. as an Adviser. Since May 2025, He has been serving as the President of the Tokyo Wan Association for Marine Safety, while participating as a member of the Council of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy under the Cabinet, and an expert member of the Land Survey Council in the Cabinet Office.
He has served not only at the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) but also in the Minister’s Secretariat of the Ministry of Transport and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Japanese Embassy in the Netherlands.
His career includes positions such as Director of Tsuruga Coast Guard Office, Director-General of the Guard and Rescue Department (GRD) of the 5th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters (RCGHqs), Director of the Security Division of the GRD of the JCG, Vice Commander of the 3rd RCGHqs, Commander of the 2nd RCGHqs, Director-General of the GRD of the JCG, and Vice Commandant for Operations of the JCG.
In July 2018, he was appointed as the 45th Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard, serving until his retirement in January 2020.
From August 2020 to September 2024, he served at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. as an Adviser. Since May 2025, He has been serving as the President of the Tokyo Wan Association for Marine Safety, while participating as a member of the Council of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy under the Cabinet, and an expert member of the Land Survey Council in the Cabinet Office.
Publications
| Publications | Publishing company | Date of Publication |
|---|---|---|
| Research on the Current State of the Coast Guard Agencies of the World (Co-authored) | Japan Coast Guard Foundation | March 2021 |
As of November 5 , 2025