About the Author
After studying Japanese at the University of Hawai’i in Manoa, Lefteris Kafatos spent four years living and working in Okinawa, an experience that gave him unique insights into the U.S.-Japan alliance. He also studied in Yokohama at the Inter-University Center for Japanese Studies (IUC), where he wrote and defended his thesis in Japanese on Tokyo’s defense policies and how these were changing in a post-9/11 world. He went on to work as a Japanese-English translator in Tokyo for four years.
Upon returning to the U.S., Kafatos earned a Master’s degree in Japanese-English Conference Interpreting at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS). He also holds an advanced Master’s degree in International Affairs from UC San Diego, where he focused his research on the U.S.-Japan alliance and defense dynamics in East Asia.
From 2016 to 2021, Kafatos served as a Japanese-English diplomatic interpreter at the U.S. Department of State. He regularly interpreted for Executive Branch officials, including the President of the United States and members of the National Security Council. He also interpreted for Cabinet members such as the Secretary of State and U.S. Trade Representative, and defense officials including the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Kafatos served in this capacity for three presidential administrations. Over a 15-year career, he has provided language services and cultural advising at hundreds of diplomatic engagements.
Today, Kafatos continues to regularly serve the State Department as an independent linguist. He draws upon his extensive experience in diplomacy to give talks and presentations on the U.S.-Japan alliance. He also writes and provides analysis on Japanese politics, foreign policy, and defense in the Indo-Pacific. Kafatos is based in Los Angeles, California.
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