The National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS) is the Ministry of Defense’s core policy research arm, conducting research and studies with a policy orientation primarily on security and military history, while also serving as a strategic college-level educational institution for the training of high-level officers of the Self-Defense Forces.

In addition, NIDS engages in such activities as the administration of military and naval documents, records and publications, and is considered to be the nation’s foremost military history research center.

NIDS proactively engages in research, studies, education and training, and places a strong emphasis on international exchanges and information dissemination.