Experts Kota Umeda
Research Fellow
Profile
Kota Umeda is a research fellow at the Institute of Geoeconomics at the International House of Japan.
From 2015 to 2025, he worked at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), where he focused on researching U.S. space policy, coordinating with other space agencies, and developing JAXA's cybersecurity policy and incident response strategies.
From 2019 to 2022, Mr. Umeda served as JAXA's liaison officer in Washington, D.C., collaborating with the U.S. government, industry leaders, and various stakeholders to promote Japan-U.S. space cooperation.
Prior to his career in the space sector, Mr. Umeda spent five years at the Japan Ministry of Defense, where he researched military activities surrounding Japan and contributed to the formulation of arms control and disarmament policies. He holds a Master of Laws from Kyoto University and a Bachelor's degree in Policy Studies from Kwansei Gakuin University.
From 2015 to 2025, he worked at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), where he focused on researching U.S. space policy, coordinating with other space agencies, and developing JAXA's cybersecurity policy and incident response strategies.
From 2019 to 2022, Mr. Umeda served as JAXA's liaison officer in Washington, D.C., collaborating with the U.S. government, industry leaders, and various stakeholders to promote Japan-U.S. space cooperation.
Prior to his career in the space sector, Mr. Umeda spent five years at the Japan Ministry of Defense, where he researched military activities surrounding Japan and contributed to the formulation of arms control and disarmament policies. He holds a Master of Laws from Kyoto University and a Bachelor's degree in Policy Studies from Kwansei Gakuin University.
Expertise
Space policy/ Defense innovation/ Cybersecurity
Publications
Umeda, Kota, and Robert S. Wilson. 2024. “Space-Based Missile Warning.” Asia Policy 19 (1): 95–111.
Research
Security
Japan’s space systems face growing cybersecurity threats
In November, less than a month after taking office, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi established the Japan Growth Strategy Headquarte
Research Fellow
Kota Umeda
Security
The Geoeconomics of Gen AI: Middle Power Strategies on Digital Sovereignty
How Is Generative AI Changing Global Competition and Cooperation? / Hiroshima AI Process / South Korean Approach to AI / EU’s Poli
Research Fellow
Kota Umeda
Emerging Technology
The Geoeconomics of Generative AI Development Race: How Emerging Technologies Can Become National Power
Generative AI has been progressing at an incredible pace and has become one of the most closely watched emerging technologies. Its
Group Head, Emerging Technologies
Makoto Shiono
Emerging Technology
A Looming Crisis in U.S. Science and Technology: The Case of NASA’s Science Budget
Barely six months into the second Trump administration, more than 4,000 employees have left the National Aeronautics and Space Adm
Research Fellow
Kota Umeda
Emerging Technology
Japan’s Space Domain Defense Guidelines: Background, Key Features, and Policy Implications
On July 28, 2025, Japan's Ministry of Defense announced the "Space Domain Defense Guidelines" (hereinafter referred to as "the Gui
Research Fellow
Kota Umeda
Experts in Geoeconomics
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