#Japan #Tokyo #Defense Industry #Japan Aerospace Consulting #Yoshihisa Hara

Former Mitsubishi Electric Executive Joins JADC

In a significant move for the defense consulting landscape, Yoshihisa Hara, a former executive vice president at Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, has been appointed as an advisor to Japan Aerospace & Defense Consulting (JADC), effective April 1, 2026. Additionally, he will also serve as an industry advisor for SHIFT, a company dedicated to supporting the development of software services and products. This strategic appointment marks a new chapter for JADC, a specialized consulting firm focused on defense sectors under the SHIFT group.

Yoshihisa Hara's Background

Yoshihisa Hara has a long-standing career at Mitsubishi Electric, where he joined the company in 1983. Over the years, he concentrated on the defense and aerospace segments, playing a pivotal role in various radar development projects including synthetic aperture radars for aircraft and satellites. By 2016, he was the head of the Kamakura factory, and in 2018, he took charge of the communication equipment factory. Most recently, from 2019 to 2023, he was responsible for overseeing Mitsubishi Electric’s Defense and Space Systems division. Hara also served as the vice chairman of the Japan Aerospace Industry Association from 2020 to 2021.

In welcoming his new role, Hara expressed pride in working alongside his colleague, Advisor Watanabe, with whom he shares a long history of collaboration in radar development. He underscored the critical importance of the defense sector in the current geopolitical climate and expressed his dedication to contributing positively alongside his new team.

JADC's Mission and Recent Developments

The establishment of JADC stemmed from SHIFT’s foray into defense consulting, beginning in 2022 with their first defense-related project. The firm has been actively engaged in supporting defense-related ministries and enterprises, increasingly prioritizing the hiring of specialists in this field. In October 2023, esteemed industry expert Hidemitsu Watanabe was appointed as industry advisor, amplifying the firm’s industry knowledge and guidance. This has enabled JADC to launch services such as RMF consulting and cybersecurity framework developments tailored for defense industries.

JADC aims to cultivate a bridge between public and private sectors, emphasizing collaboration, research, and training programs aligned with national security needs. For instance, they are progressing in expanding the RMF education program to meet the operational needs of defense procurement practitioners.

To bolster their capability and service offerings further, JADC brought on board Yoshihisa Hara, a veteran with nearly 40 years of experience in the defense and aerospace sector. His extensive knowledge and practical insights into defense procurement development will be invaluable in promoting innovation and enhancing services.

A Promising Future for JADC

JADC, founded in April 2025 under the SHIFT group, boasts a roster of seasoned professionals with expertise in international security dynamics and the domestic defense industry. They provide a variety of services, including research, technical support, and RMF consulting, aimed at helping numerous stakeholders in the defense sector resolve challenges and enhance public-private collaboration.

As part of their efforts, JADC regularly publishes reports on current security conditions and trends in the defense market, providing critical insights to their members and stakeholders.

For More Information

The head office of Japan Aerospace & Defense Consulting is located at 1-3-1 Azabudai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, in the Mori JP Tower. For their latest updates and reports, visit SHIFT JADC's official site.