"Satellite Imagery Analysis-Current State of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and Concerns Going Forward"

Born in 1972, Kobayashi graduated from the School of Law and Politics at Kwansei Gakuin University. He then joined Kahoku Shimpo, and after working in the editorial department’s economic section, he left the company in 2007. He received a master’s degree in international relations from Sciences Po Strasbourg in 2013, and a master’s degree in public policy from Sciences Po Rennes in 2014. He enrolled in the doctoral course at Mines ParisTech in 2015, earning his Ph.D. in 2019 with his thesis, “The Relationship between Politics and Science in the Crisis Response to the Accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.” He has held his current position since July 2019. His recent publications include “Contributions by Nuclear Technology and Next-Generation Nuclear Reactors to Nonproliferation,” in the April issue of Komei, and “Russia’s Ukraine Invasion and the Protection of Nuclear Plants during War — a First-Time Challenge,” (IINA).

Lecturer, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo. He holds a BA in Social Sciences and a MA in Political Science from Waseda University. Previously, he has held various positions, including Assistant Analyst at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Research Fellow at Institute for Future Engineering (IFENG), Research Fellow at the National Diet Library, and also a visiting researcher at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IMEMO RAN). He has presented and published extensively on national security policies and strategies of Russia and the former Soviet republics, as well as defense technologies. His publication in Japanese includes (in English translation titles): Whither Russian Military?, 2011; Putin's National Strategy: "Major Power" Russia at a Crossroads, 2016; Russia as a Military Power: New Global Strategy and Principles of Behavior, 2016. His book "Teikoku" Roshia no Chiseigaku (Geopolitics of Russian "Empire") published in 2019 was awarded Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities in that year. His latest book is Gendai Russia no Gunji Shiso (Military Thought in Contemporary Russia) published in 2021.

Graduated from the National Defense Academy of Japan in 1985 and completed his Master’s program (area studies) at the University of Tsukuba in 1998. Joined the Maritime Self‐Defense Forces in 1985 and became a helicopter pilot. Stationed in China between 2003 and 2006 as a naval attaché. Became chief of the intelligence section, MSDF Maritime Staff Office, Ministry of Defense, in 2006 and commanding officer of the 21st Flight Squadron, MSDF, in 2009. Worked at IHS Jane’s from 2011 as an analyst and business development manager and joined The Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research in 2013, and became the Director of Policy Research in 2016 before assuming his present position in June 2017. His works include Chugoku no gunji senryaku (China’s Military Strategy), Toyo Keizai Inc., co-author of Magari kado ni tatsu chugoku (China at a Turning Point), NTT Publishing, Beichu shin reisen no makuake (After Sharp Power), Toyo Keizai Inc., and Yoku wakaru gendai chugoku seiji (Contemporary Chinese Politics), Minervashobo, Taiwan yuji no shinario: Nihon no anzenhosho wo kenshosuru (Scenarios for a Taiwan Contingency: Appraising Japan’s Security) , Minervashobo.