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Japanese intelligence agency under the Cabinet Secretariat
TheCabinet Intelligence and Research Office (内閣情報調査室,Naikaku Jōhō Chōsashitsu),[4] also known asNaichō (内調),[5] is the national civilian intelligence agency under the JapaneseCabinet 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 theCabinet 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 thePrime Minister of Japan. Its operations are mandated through the Cabinet Law.[6]
The agency is said to be equivalent to the AmericanCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA).[7] Like most intelligence agencies in Japan, its personnel are usually recruited from other agencies.[8] Around 100 out of 170 CIRO agents are from other agencies/ministries with top positions occupied by career police officers.[9] The CIRO frequently works with theNational Security Council (NSCJ) as a communication channel to the prime minister.
The CIRO is headquartered inChiyoda, Tokyo, in a building called "H20".[10]
The CIRO was created by the Allied Forces through the formation of the Prime Ministers's Research Office (内閣総理大臣官房調査室,Naikakusōri Daijin Kanbō Chōsa-Shitsu) in April 1952 with Jun Murai as the first director in an attempt to replicate its structure after the CIA.[9] But due to widespread opposition and the factionalism in the bureaucracy, this plan was discarded.[9] The RO was placed under jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's office in 1957 and was known as the Cabinet Research Office (内閣調査室,Naikaku Chōsa-Shitsu).[1] The CRO was later renamed as the CIRO in 1986.[1]
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.[7] It's located in thePrime Minister's residence.[7]
In August 2007, discussions of intelligence reforms through the paperImprovement of Counter-Intelligence Functions resulted in the establishment of the Counterintelligence Center.[11] 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.[12]
In 2013, CIRO satellite imagery analysis was used to assist NGOs in Tacloban for reconstruction work in the wake ofTyphoon Haiyan.[13]
Since 2015, CIRO agents are usually recruited to be sent to the International Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Collection Unit.[14][15]
In 2016, the business magazineFacta reported that the government ofShinzo Abe had directed the CIRO to spy on a legal council connected toDavid Kaye, who asU.N. special rapporteur on freedom of expression stated "deep and genuine concern" on decliningmedia independence in Japan.[16]
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.[17]
On October 24, 2025, it's reported that CIRO would be potentially restructured.[18]
On January 17, 2008, an official of Naichō was charged for spying for Russians, passing them classified information. The Russians denied the claim.[19] Since then, there had been calls for greater accountability on Naichō.[20]
Naichō's headquarters are located on the 6th floor of theCabinet Office Building
According to its official web site, the organization of Naichō is as follows:[21]
Director of Cabinet Intelligence (内閣情報官)
Deputy Director of Cabinet Intelligence (次長)
Cabinet Intelligence Officer
Divisions:
Administration (総務部門): Has Human Resources, Budget and academic experts.
Home Affairs Division (国内部門): Collect information based on domestic media, including newspapers, magazines and from news broadcasts.
International Affairs Division (国際部門): Collect information based on foreign media and broadcasts from another country, including CIRO agents based overseas.
Cabinet Intensive Information Center (内閣情報集約センター): 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.
Cabinet Intelligence Analysts (内閣情報分析官)
Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center (内閣衛星情報センター): Operates a network ofsurveillance satellites, such as theInformation Gathering Satellite (IGS)-Optical and IGS-Radar series. As of June 2018, Japan has six functioning observation satellites in orbit.[22] It was established in 2001 and has 320 personnel employed with at least 100 of them being imagery intelligence analysts.[9] Tasked with obtaining and analyzing satellite imagery data.[23] The Deputy Director position is filled by a senior officer from the NPA.[24]
Situation Center of Cabinet
National Counterintelligence Center (カウンターインテリジェンスセンター): Coordinates government action based on the "Improvement of Counter-Intelligence Functions" policy.
Cabinet Counter Terrorism Intelligence Coordination Center
Davies, Philip H.J.; Gustafson, Kristian, eds. (2013).Intelligence Elsewhere: Spies and Espionage Outside the Anglosphere. Georgetown University Press.ISBN978-1589019560.
Dover, Robert; Goodman, Michael S.; Hillebrand, Claudia, eds. (2014).Routledge Companion to Intelligence Studies. New York: Routledge.ISBN978-1589019560.
Samuels, Richard J. (2019).Special Duty: A History of the Japanese Intelligence Community. Cornell University Press.ISBN978-1501741586.
Japanese intelligence agencies
