Office of high-ranking Japanese military leaders for coordinating JSDF activities
The Joint Staff Office (Japanese: 統合幕僚監部, "Tōgō bakuryō-kanbu": abbreviation: JSO), also known as the Joint Staff and formerly known as the Joint Staff Council, is one of the administrative agencies within the Government of Japan. It is a special organisation under the Japanese Ministry of Defense responsible for integrating the military operations of the Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces. The abbreviation of the agency in Japanese is "Tōbaku" (統幕). 
The JSO is considered to be the equivalent of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of foreign armed forces, including that of the United States. Its predecessor was the Joint Chiefs Council (JSC). The office is located in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo. 
The current Chief of Staff, Joint Staff is General Yoshihide Yoshida, who replaced General Koji Yamazaki after being appointed on 22 March 2023.
On 30 October 2024, Ministry of Defense (MoD) decided to extend Chief of Staff, JS / General Yoshihide Yoshida's term to 29 April 2025. 
Organization.
The JSO is divided into four departments as can be seen below. Each department has an associated code beginning with the letter J and a corresponding single-digit number. The Joint Staff also consists of four special staff (Joint Staff Councilor/Director General, Public Affairs Director General and Legal Affairs General).
JSO internal structure:
In January 1997, Establishment of Defense Intelligence Headquarters (DIH) in Joint Staff Council (JSC). (The J-2 was abolished.)
Duties.
The duties of JSO inclues the following.
The JSO is responsible for coordinating the activities of the ground, maritime and air service branches of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
Affiliated organizations.
Founded in 1961, the Joint Staff College is an affiliated school of the JSO and the Ministry of Defense.
References.
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