Mr. Bonji Ohara graduated from the National Defense Academy of Japan in 1985 and completed his Master's Degree in Area Study at the University of Tsukuba in 1998. He is a security expert studying Contemporary Chinese Politics, Chinese Security/Defense Policy, US-China relations, Japan-US Alliance, Japanese Security Policy. He became the leading pilot of the 101st flight division, Maritime Self-Defense Force, in 1998. He enrolled in the General Course of the National Institute for Defense Studies in 2001. Mr. Ohara was stationed in China between 2003 and 2006 as a Naval Attaché and became a chief of the intelligence section, Maritime Staff Office in Ministry of Defense, in 2006; Executive Officer of the 21st air squadron, MSDF, in 2008; and Commanding Officer of the squadron the following year. Mr. Ohara joined NIDS as a research fellow in 2010, worked for IHS Jane's from 2011 as an analyst and business development manager, and for the Tokyo Foundation as a Director of Research before assuming the position of Senior Fellow in the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in June 2017. Mr. Ohara also became a Senior Researcher in KEIO Research Institute at SFC in May 2020. Some of Mr. Ohara's published books are as follows; "Chinese Military Strategy", Tokyo Keizai Shinposha, November 2014, "China on turning point", Masakazu Toyoda and Bonji Ohara, NTT shuppan, July 2017, "After Sharp Power - Beginning of U.S.-China New Cold War" Bonji Ohara and Kyoko Kuwahara, Toyo Keizai Shinposha, December 2019, "Contemporary Chinese Politics" Edited by Shin Kawashima and Kazuko Kojima, Minerva Shobo, April 2020 - Text book for students of universities "Taiwan Contingency Scenario" Edited by Satoshi Morimoto and Bonji Ohara, Minerva Shobo, January 2022.

CDR Jason Schwarzkopf enlisted in the Navy 30 years ago, sailing in surface combatants and visiting over 40 countries. An avid Japanophile who loves traveling and living in Yokosuka, he has come to regard Japan as a second home during several tours of duty in ships, 7th Fleet staff, and his current role as the United States Naval Forces Japan Operations Officer.