noun
Director General of the former Defense Agency
Historical title for the head of Japan's Defense Agency (防衛庁) before it was upgraded to the Ministry of Defense (防衛省) in 2007. The current equivalent is 防衛大臣 (Minister of Defense).
See also: 防衛大臣
防衛庁長官は、防衛庁の長として自衛隊の最高指揮官だった。
The Director General of the Defense Agency was the supreme commander of the Self-Defense Forces as the head of the Defense Agency.
2007年に防衛庁は防衛省に昇格し、防衛庁長官の役職は防衛大臣に引き継がれた。
In 2007, the Defense Agency was upgraded to the Ministry of Defense, and the post of Director General of the Defense Agency was succeeded by the Minister of Defense.