List of Prime Ministers of Japan
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This is a list of Prime Ministers of Japan, including those of the Empire of Japan, from when the first Japanese prime minister (in the modern sense), Itō Hirobumi, took office in 1885, until the present day. The office is currently held by Shinzō Abe.
Multiple terms in office, consecutive or otherwise, are listed and counted in the first column (administration number) and the second column counts individuals. For example, Fukuda Yasuo, is listed as the 58th individual to hold the office of prime minister, whilst his first cabinet is the 91st since Itō Hirobumi.
The Prime Ministers under the Meiji Constitution had a mandate from the Emperor. The "electoral mandates" shown are for the lower house of the Imperial Diet that was not constitutionally guaranteed to have any influence on the appointment of the Prime Minister.
Key
Military and non-partisan:
- None
Meiji era liberals, conservative mainstream:
Prewar liberals:
Unified conservatives:
Modern era reformist conservatives, liberals, socialists:
Prime Ministers of the Empire of Japan (1868–1947)
Prime Ministers during the Meiji period (1868–1912)
Under the Meiji Emperor
№ | Prime Minister | Term of office | Political Party | Government | Elected | Ref | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took Office | Left Office | Days | |||||
1 | ![]() |
Itō Hirobumi 伊藤 博文 Itō Hirobumi (1841–1909) |
22 December 1885 | 30 April 1888 | 860 | None | 1. Itō I | — | [1] |
The first Prime Minister of the Empire of Japan. | |||||||||
2 | ![]() |
Kuroda Kiyotaka 黑田 清隆 Kuroda Kiyotaka (1840–1900) |
30 April 1888 | 25 October 1889 | 543 | None | 2. Kuroda | — | [2] |
Oversaw promulgation of the Meiji Constitution. Failed to secure revision of the unequal treaties; resigned. | |||||||||
— | ![]() |
Sanjō Sanetomi 三條 實美 Sanjō Sanetomi (1837–1891) |
25 October 1889 | 24 December 1889 | 60 | None | Sanjō (interim) | — | |
Upon the resignation of Kuroda’s government, the Emperor only accepted Kuroda’s resignation and invited Sanjō to head the government for two more months. Today, however, Sanjō’s government is generally regarded as a continuation of Kuroda’s. Held concurrently by the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal. | |||||||||
3 | ![]() |
Yamagata Aritomo 山縣 有朋 Yamagata Aritomo (1838–1922) |
24 December 1889 | 6 May 1891 | 498 | None | 3. Yamagata I | 1890 | [3] |
4 | ![]() |
Matsukata Masayoshi 松方 正義 Matsukata Masayoshi (1835–1924) |
6 May 1891 | 8 August 1892 | 460 | None | 4. Matsukata I | 1892 | [4] |
(1) | ![]() |
Itō Hirobumi 伊藤 博文 Itō Hirobumi (1841–1909) |
8 August 1892 | 31 August 1896 | 1484 | None | 5. Itō II | Mar. 1894 Sept. 1894 |
[1] |
First Sino-Japanese War | |||||||||
During this interval, Privy Council Chairman Kuroda Kiyotaka (黑田 清隆 Kuroda Kiyotaka) was the Acting Prime Minister. | |||||||||
(4) | ![]() |
Matsukata Masayoshi 松方 正義 Matsukata Masayoshi (1835–1924) |
18 September 1896 | 12 January 1898 | 481 | None | 6. Matsukata II | — | [4] |
(1) | ![]() |
Itō Hirobumi 伊藤 博文 Itō Hirobumi (1841–1909) |
12 January 1898 | 30 June 1898 | 169 | None | 7. Itō III | Mar. 1898 | [1] |
5 | ![]() |
Ōkuma Shigenobu 大隈 重信 Ōkuma Shigenobu (1838–1922) |
30 June 1898 | 8 November 1898 | 131 | Kenseitō | 8. Ōkuma I | Sept. 1898 | [5] |
(3) | ![]() |
Yamagata Aritomo 山縣 有朋 Yamagata Aritomo (1838–1922) |
8 November 1898 | 19 October 1900 | 710 | None | 9. Yamagata II | — | [3] |
(1) | ![]() |
Itō Hirobumi 伊藤 博文 Itō Hirobumi (1841–1909) |
19 October 1900 | 10 May 1901 | 203 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 10. Itō IV | — | [1] |
Resigned. | |||||||||
During this interval, Privy Council Chairman Saionji Kinmochi (西園寺 公望 Saionji Kinmochi) was the Acting Prime Minister. | |||||||||
6 | ![]() |
Katsura Tarō 桂 太郎 Katsura Tarō (1848–1913) |
2 June 1901 | 7 January 1906 | 1680 | None (Retired General) | 11. Katsura I | 1902 1903 1904 |
[6] |
7 | ![]() |
Saionji Kinmochi 西園寺 公望 Saionji Kinmochi (1849–1940) |
7 January 1906 | 14 July 1908 | 919 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 12. Saionji I | 1908 | [7] |
(6) | ![]() |
Katsura Tarō 桂 太郎 Katsura Tarō (1848–1913) |
14 July 1908 | 30 August 1911 | 1142 | None (Retired General) | 13. Katsura II | — | [6] |
(7) | ![]() |
Saionji Kinmochi 西園寺 公望 Saionji Kinmochi (1849–1940) |
30 August 1911 | 21 December 1912 | 479 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 14. Saionji II | 1912 | [7] |
Prime Ministers during the Taishō period (1912–1926)
Under the Taishō Emperor
№ | Prime Minister | Term of office | Political Party | Government | Elected | Ref | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took Office | Left Office | Days | |||||
(6) | ![]() |
Katsura Tarō 桂 太郎 Katsura Tarō (1848–1913) |
21 December 1912 | 20 February 1913 | 61 | None (Retired General) | 15. Katsura III | — | [6] |
8 | ![]() |
Yamamoto Gonnohyōe 山本 權兵衛 Yamamoto Gonnohyōe (1852–1933) |
20 February 1913 | 16 April 1914 | 420 | Military (Navy) | 16. Yamamoto I | — | [8] |
(5) | ![]() |
Ōkuma Shigenobu 大隈 重信 Ōkuma Shigenobu (1838–1922) |
16 April 1914 | 9 October 1916 | 907 | Rikken Dōshikai | 17. Ōkuma II | 1915 | [5] |
9 | ![]() |
Terauchi Masatake 寺内 正毅 Terauchi Masatake (1852–1919) |
9 October 1916 | 29 September 1918 | 720 | Military (Army) | 18. Terauchi | 1917 | [9] |
10 | ![]() |
Hara Takashi 原 敬 Hara Takashi (1856–1921) |
29 September 1918 | 4 November 1921 | 1132 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 19. Hara | 1920 | [10] |
Assassinated. | |||||||||
During this interval, Foreign Minister Uchida Kosai (内田 康哉 Uchida Kōsai) was the Acting Prime Minister. | |||||||||
11 | ![]() |
Takahashi Korekiyo 高橋 是清 Takahashi Korekiyo (1854–1936) |
13 November 1921 | 12 June 1922 | 220 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 20. Takahashi | — | [11] |
12 | ![]() |
Katō Tomosaburō 加藤 友三郎 Katō Tomosaburō (1861–1923) |
12 June 1922 | 24 August 1923 | 438 | Military (Navy) | 21. Katō To. | — | [12] |
Died in office of natural causes. | |||||||||
During this interval, Foreign Minister Uchida Kosai (内田 康哉 Uchida Kōsai) was the Acting Prime Minister. | |||||||||
(8) | ![]() |
Yamamoto Gonnohyōe 山本 權兵衛 Yamamoto Gonnohyōe (1852–1933) |
2 September 1923 | 7 January 1924 | 125 | Military (Navy) | 22. Yamamoto II | — | [8] |
13 | ![]() |
Kiyoura Keigo 清浦 奎吾 Kiyoura Keigo (1850–1942) |
7 January 1924 | 11 June 1924 | 156 | None | 23. Kiyoura | 1924 | [13] |
14 | ![]() |
Katō Takaaki 加藤 高明 Katō Takaaki (1860–1926) |
11 June 1924 | 2 August 1925 | 596 | Kenseikai | 24. Katō Ta. | — | [14] |
2 August 1925 | 28 January 1926 | ||||||||
Resigned after the "Grand Coalition of the Three Pro-Constitution Parties" collapsed. Katō was then reinvited by the Prince Regent to form a new government with his own party, Kenseitō. Today, however, his second term is generally regarded as continuation of his first. Died in office of natural causes. | |||||||||
During this interval, Interior Minister Wakatsuki Reijirō (若槻 禮次郎 Wakatsuki Reijirō) was the Acting Prime Minister. | |||||||||
15 | ![]() |
Wakatsuki Reijirō 若槻 禮次郎 Wakatsuki Reijirō (1866–1949) |
30 January 1926 | 20 April 1927 | 445 | Kenseikai | 25. Wakatsuki I | — | [15] |
Prime Ministers during the Shōwa period (1926–1947)
Under the Shōwa Emperor
№ | Prime Minister | Term of office | Political Party | Government | Elected | Ref | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took Office | Left Office | Days | |||||
16 | ![]() |
Tanaka Giichi 田中 義一 Tanaka Giichi (1864–1929) |
20 April 1927 | 2 July 1929 | 804 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 26. Tanaka G. | 1928 | [16] |
17 | ![]() |
Osachi Hamaguchi 濱口 雄幸 Hamaguchi Osachi (1870–1931) |
2 July 1929 | 14 April 1931 | 651 | Rikken Minseitō | 27. Hamaguchi | 1930 | [17] |
Incapacitated due to serious wound from assassination plot on 14 November 1930. Foreign Minister Kijūrō Shidehara served as Deputy Prime Minister until Hamaguchi’s return to the office on 10 March 1931. | |||||||||
(15) | ![]() |
Wakatsuki Reijirō 若槻 禮次郞 Wakatsuki Reijirō (1866–1949) |
14 April 1931 | 13 December 1931 | 243 | Rikken Minseitō | 28. Wakatsuki II | — | [15] |
18 | ![]() |
Inukai Tsuyoshi 犬養 毅 Inukai Tsuyoshi (1855–1932) |
13 December 1931 | 15 May 1932 | 154 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 29. Inukai | 1932 | [18] |
Assassinated. | |||||||||
During this interval, Finance Minister Takahashi Korekiyo (高橋 是淸 Takahashi Korekiyo) was the Acting Prime Minister. | |||||||||
19 | ![]() |
Saitō Makoto 齋藤 實 Saitō Makoto (1858–1936) |
26 May 1932 | 8 July 1934 | 773 | Military (Navy) | 30. Saitō | — | [19] |
20 | ![]() |
Keisuke Okada 岡田 啓介 Okada Keisuke (1868–1952) |
8 July 1934 | 9 March 1936 | 610 | Military (Navy) | 31. Okada | 1936 | [20] |
Thought to be killed by renegade soldiers during the February 26 Incident. Interior Minister Gotō Fumio served as Deputy Prime Minister until Okada was found alive on 28 February 1936. | |||||||||
21 | ![]() |
Kōki Hirota 廣田 弘毅 Hirota Kōki (1878–1948) |
9 March 1936 | 2 February 1937 | 330 | None | 32. Hirota | — | [21] |
22 | ![]() |
Senjūrō Hayashi 林 銑十郞 Hayashi Senjūrō (1876–1943) |
2 February 1937 | 4 June 1937 | 122 | Military (Army) | 33. Hayashi | 1937 | [22] |
23 | ![]() |
Fumimaro Konoe 近衞 文麿 Konoe Fumimaro (1891–1945) |
4 June 1937 | 5 January 1939 | 580 | None | 34. Konoe I | — | [23] |
24 | ![]() |
Hiranuma Kiichirō 平沼 騏一郞 Hiranuma Kiichirō (1867–1952) |
5 January 1939 | 30 August 1939 | 237 | None | 35. Hiranuma | — | [24] |
25 | ![]() |
Nobuyuki Abe 阿部 信行 Abe Nobuyuki (1875–1953) |
30 August 1939 | 16 January 1940 | 139 | Military (Army) | 36. Abe N. | — | [25] |
26 | ![]() |
Mitsumasa Yonai 米内 光政 Yonai Mitsumasa (1880–1948) |
16 January 1940 | 22 July 1940 | 188 | Military (Navy) | 37. Yonai | — | [26] |
![]() |
Fumimaro Konoe 近衞 文麿 Konoe Fumimaro (1891–1945) |
22 July 1940 | 12 October 1940 | 453 | None | 38. Konoe II | — | [23] | |
(23) | 12 October 1940 | 18 July 1941 | IRAA Taisei Yokusankai | ||||||
18 July 1941 | 18 October 1941 | 39. Konoe III | — | ||||||
27 | ![]() |
Hideki Tōjō 東條 英機 Tōjō Hideki (1884–1948) |
18 October 1941 | 22 July 1944 | 1008 | IRAA Taisei Yokusankai |
40. Tōjō | 1942 | [27] |
28 | ![]() |
Kuniaki Koiso 小磯 國昭 Koiso Kuniaki (1880–1950) |
22 July 1944 | 7 April 1945 | 259 | IRAA Taisei Yokusankai |
41. Koiso | — | [28] |
29 | ![]() |
Kantarō Suzuki 鈴木 貫太郞 Suzuki Kantarō (1868–1948) |
7 April 1945 | 13 June 1945 | 132 | IRAA Taisei Yokusankai |
42. Suzuki K. | — | [29] |
13 June 1945 | 17 August 1945 | None | |||||||
30 | ![]() |
Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni 東久邇宮 稔彦王 Higashikuni no miya Naruhiko ō (1887–1990) |
17 August 1945 | 9 October 1945 | 53 | Imperial Family | 43. Higashikuni no miya | — | [30] |
The only member of the Imperial Family to serve as Prime Minister. | |||||||||
31 | ![]() |
Kijūrō Shidehara 幣原 喜重郞 Shidehara Kijūrō (1872–1951) |
9 October 1945 | 22 May 1946 | 225 | JPP Nihon Shimpotō |
44. Shidehara | 1946 | [31] |
32 | ![]() |
Shigeru Yoshida 吉田 茂 Yoshida Shigeru (1878–1967) |
22 May 1946 | 24 May 1947 | 367 | Liberal Jiyūtō |
45. Yoshida I | — | [32] |
Prime Ministers of the State of Japan (1947–present)
Prime Ministers during the Shōwa period (1947–1989)
Under the Shōwa Emperor
№ | Prime Minister | Term of office | Political Party | Government | Elected | Ref | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took Office | Left Office | Days | Gen. | Coun. | ||||
33 | ![]() |
Tetsu Katayama 片山 哲 Katayama Tetsu (1887–1978) Rep for Kanagawa 3rd |
24 May 1947 | 10 March 1948 | 291 | JSP Nihon Shakaitō |
46. Katayama JSP–DP–PCP |
1947 | 1947 | [33] |
Under Allied Occupation. The first Prime Minister and the first socialist to serve as Prime Minister of Japan. Member of Diet from 1930 to 1963. Formed a coalition government with the Democratic Party and the National Cooperative Party. | ||||||||||
34 | ![]() |
Hitoshi Ashida 芦田 均 Ashida Hitoshi (1887–1959) Rep for Kyōto 2nd |
10 March 1948 | 15 October 1948 | 219 | DP Minshutō |
47. Ashida DP–JSP–PCP |
— | — | [34] |
Under Allied Occupation. Ashida's cabinet resigned after seven months in office, due to alleged ministerial corruption in the Showa Electric scandal. | ||||||||||
(32) | ![]() |
Shigeru Yoshida 吉田 茂 Yoshida Shigeru (1878–1967) Rep for Kōchi At-large |
15 October 1948 | 16 February 1949 | 2247 | DLP Minshu Jiyūtō (until 1950); Liberal Jiyūtō |
48. Yoshida II DLP |
— | — | [32] |
16 February 1949 | 30 October 1952 | 49. Yoshida III (Reshuffle 1 · 2 · 3) DLP/Liberal–DP |
1949 | 1950 | ||||||
30 October 1952 | 21 May 1953 | 50. Yoshida IV Liberal |
1952 | — | ||||||
21 May 1953 | 10 December 1954 | 51. Yoshida V Liberal |
1953 | 1953 | ||||||
Under Allied Occupation until the Treaty of San Francisco came into force on 28 April 1952. Developed the Yoshida Doctrine, prioritising economic development and reliance on United States military protection. | ||||||||||
35 | ![]() |
Ichirō Hatoyama 鳩山 一郎 Hatoyama Ichirō (1883–1959) Rep for Tokyo 1st |
10 December 1954 | 19 March 1955 | 744 | JDP Nihon Minshutō |
52. Hatoyama I. I JDP |
— | — | [35] |
19 March 1955 | 22 November 1955 | 53. Hatoyama I. II JDP |
1955 | — | ||||||
22 November 1955 | 23 December 1956 | LDP Jimintō |
54. Hatoyama I. III LDP |
— | — | |||||
Rebuilt diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union. Favored parole for some of the Class A war criminals who had been sentenced to life imprisonment at the Tokyo Trial. | ||||||||||
36 | ![]() |
Tanzan Ishibashi 石橋 湛山 Ishibashi Tanzan (1884–1973) Rep for Shizuoka 2nd |
23 December 1956 | 25 February 1957 | 64 | LDP Jimintō |
55. Ishibashi LDP |
— | 1956 | [36] |
Incapacitated due to minor stroke on 31 January 1957. Foreign Minister Kishi Nobusuke served as Deputy Prime Minister until 25 February 1957. | ||||||||||
37 | ![]() |
Nobusuke Kishi 岸 信介 Kishi Nobusuke (1896–1987) Rep for Yamaguchi 1st |
25 February 1957 | 12 June 1958 | 1240 | LDP Jimintō |
56. Kishi I (Reshuffle) LDP |
— | — | [37] |
12 June 1958 | 19 July 1960 | 57. Kishi II (Reshuffle) LDP |
1958 | 1959 | ||||||
38 | ![]() |
Hayato Ikeda 池田 勇人 Ikeda Hayato (1899–1965) Rep for Hiroshima 2nd |
19 July 1960 | 8 December 1960 | 1574 | LDP Jimintō |
58. Ikeda I LDP |
— | — | [38] |
8 December 1960 | 9 December 1963 | 59. Ikeda II (Reshuffle 1 · 2 · 3) LDP |
1960 | 1962 | ||||||
9 December 1963 | 9 November 1964 | 60. Ikeda III (Reshuffle) LDP |
1963 | — | ||||||
39 | ![]() |
Eisaku Satō 佐藤 榮作 Satō Eisaku (1901–1975) Rep for Yamaguchi 2nd |
9 November 1964 | 17 February 1967 | 2797 | LDP Jimintō |
61. Satō I (Reshuffle 1 · 2 · 3) LDP |
— | 1965 | [39] |
17 February 1967 | 14 January 1970 | 62. Satō II (Reshuffle 1 · 2) LDP |
1967 | 1968 | ||||||
14 January 1970 | 7 July 1972 | 63. Satō III (Reshuffle) |
1969 | 1971 | ||||||
40 | ![]() |
Kakuei Tanaka 田中 角榮 Tanaka Kakuei (1918–1993) Rep for Niigata 3rd |
7 July 1972 | 22 December 1972 | 885 | LDP Jimintō |
64. Tanaka K. I LDP |
— | — | [40] |
22 December 1972 | 9 December 1974 | 65. Tanaka K. II (Reshuffle 1 · 2) LDP |
1972 | — | ||||||
41 | ![]() |
Takeo Miki 三木 武夫 Miki Takeo (1907–1988) Rep for Tokushima At-large |
9 December 1974 | 24 December 1976 | 746 | LDP Jimintō |
66. Miki (Reshuffle) LDP |
— | 1974 | [41] |
42 | ![]() |
Takeo Fukuda 福田 赳夫 Fukuda Takeo (1905–1995) Rep for Gunma 3rd |
24 December 1976 | 7 December 1978 | 713 | LDP Jimintō |
67. Fukuda T. (Reshuffle) LDP |
1976 | 1977 | [42] |
43 | ![]() |
Masayoshi Ōhira 大平 正芳 Ōhira Masayoshi (1910–1980) Rep for Kagawa 2nd |
7 December 1978 | 9 November 1979 | 553 | LDP Jimintō |
68. Ōhira I LDP |
— | — | [43] |
9 November 1979 | 12 June 1980 | 69. Ōhira II LDP |
1979 | — | ||||||
Died in office of natural causes. | ||||||||||
During this interval, Chief Cabinet Secretary Masayoshi Ito (伊東 正義 Itō Masayoshi) was the Acting Prime Minister. | ||||||||||
44 | ![]() |
Zenkō Suzuki 鈴木 善幸 Suzuki Zenkō (1911–2004) Rep for Iwate 1st |
17 July 1980 | 27 November 1982 | 863 | LDP Jimintō |
70. Suzuki Z. (Reshuffle) LDP |
1980 | 1980 | [44] |
45 | ![]() |
Yasuhiro Nakasone 中曽根 康弘 Nakasone Yasuhiro (1918–) Rep for Gunma 3rd |
27 November 1982 | 27 December 1983 | 1805 | LDP Jimintō |
71. Nakasone I LDP |
— | — | [45] |
27 December 1983 | 22 July 1986 | 72. Nakasone II (Reshuffle 1 · 2) LDP–NLC |
1983 | 1983 | ||||||
22 July 1986 | 6 November 1987 | 73. Nakasone III LDP |
1986 | 1986 | ||||||
46 | ![]() |
Noboru Takeshita 竹下 登 Takeshita Noboru (1924–2000) Rep for Shimane At-large |
6 November 1987 | 3 June 1989 | 575 | LDP Jimintō |
74. Takeshita (Reshuffle) LDP |
— | — | [46] |
Prime Ministers during the Heisei period (1989–present)
Under Emperor Akihito
№ | Prime Minister | Term of office | Political Party | Government | Elected | Ref | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took Office | Left Office | Days | Gen. | Coun. | ||||
47 | ![]() |
Sōsuke Uno 宇野 宗佑 Uno Sōsuke (1922–1998) Rep for Shiga At-large |
3 June 1989 | 10 August 1989 | 68 | LDP Jimintō |
75. Uno LDP |
— | 1989 | [47] |
Soon after he was elected Prime Minister, allegations arose that he had an extramarital relationship with a geisha, which damaged his reputation and his party's bad performance in the 1989 House of Councillors election, for which he resigned. He died in 1998. Served as Minister of Defense (1974), Chief of the Science and Technology Agency (1976–1977), Chief of the Civil Administration Agency (1979–1980), Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (1983), and Minister for Foreign Affairs (1987–1989). Member of the Diet from 1960 to 1996. | ||||||||||
48 | ![]() |
Toshiki Kaifu 海部 俊樹 Kaifu Toshiki (1931–) Rep for Aichi 3rd |
10 August 1989 | 28 February 1990 | 817 | LDP Jimintō |
76. Kaifu I LDP |
— | — | [48] |
28 February 1990 | 5 November 1991 | 77. Kaifu II (Reshuffle) LDP |
1990 | — | ||||||
Defeated in 2009, he was the longest-serving member of the lower house of the Diet, and he was also the first former prime minister to be defeated at a re-election since 1963. Served as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (1974–1976), Minister of Education (1976–1977, 1985–1986). Member of the Diet from 1960 to 2009. | ||||||||||
49 | ![]() |
Kiichi Miyazawa 宮澤 喜一 Miyazawa Kiichi (1919–2007) Rep for Hiroshima 3rd |
5 November 1991 | 9 August 1993 | 643 | LDP Jimintō |
78. Miyazawa (Reshuffle) LDP |
— | 1992 | [49] |
Originally a bureaucrat in the Treasury Ministry, he accompanied Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida at the Treaty of San Francisco. A firm critic of the revision of the constitution, he advocated peace throughout his political career. After his party's stunning defeat in the 1993 general election, he was forced to resign the Prime Ministership, but became Minister of Finance in the cabinet of Keizo Obuchi and Yoshiro Mori from 1998 to 2001. He died in 2007. Served as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (1962–1964, 1966–1968, 1970–1971, 1977–1978), Chief Cabinet Secretary (1980–1982), Minister of Finance (1986–1988), Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (1993) and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (1993). Member of the House of Councillors (1952–1965). Member of the House of Representatives (1967–2003). | ||||||||||
50 | ![]() |
Morihiro Hosokawa 細川 護熙 Hosokawa Morihiro (1938–) Rep for Kumamoto 1st |
9 August 1993 | 28 April 1994 | 262 | JNP Nihon Shintō |
79. Hosokawa JNP–JSP–JRP–Komeitō–NPS–DSP–SDF |
1993 | — | [50] |
He is a member of a noble family that ruled Kumamoto since Medieval times, and during Imperial Japan, his family was part of the aristocracy, his grandfather Konoe Fumimaro having served as Prime Minister (1937–1939, 1940–1941). Originally member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he left the party in 1992 to form the Japan New Party, which garnered 35 members in the 1993 general election. He served as Prime Minister in 8-party coalition government and spearheaded a reform to change the electoral system. He resigned after allegations arose that he had misused personal funds in the 1980s. Served as Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture (1983–1991). Member of the House of Councilors from 1971 to 1983 and 1992 to 1993. Member of the House of Representatives from 1993 to 1998. | ||||||||||
51 | ![]() |
Tsutomu Hata 羽田 孜 Hata Tsutomu (1935–) Rep for Nagano 2nd |
28 April 1994 | 30 June 1994 | 63 | JRP Shinseitō |
80. Hata JRP–JNP–JSP–SDP–SDF–Komeitō–NPS |
— | — | [51] |
Originally member of the Liberal Democratic Party, he left the party in 1993 with Ichirō Ozawa to establish the Japan Renewal Party, which garnered 44 seats in the 1993 general election. He served as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the cabinet of Morihiro Hosokawa, until the latter resigned after his implication in a banking scandal. Hata then assumed the Prime Ministership, but since the Socialist Party had left the coalition, his minority government was forced to resign in two months as a non-confidence motion against his cabinet was submitted to the House of Representatives. Currently a member of the Democratic Party of Japan, he is now one of the elder politicians of the party. Served as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (1985–1986, 1988–1989), Minister of Finance (1991–1992), and Minister for Foreign Affairs. Member of the Diet from 1969 to 2012. | ||||||||||
52 | ![]() |
Tomiichi Murayama 村山 富市 Murayama Tomiichi (1924–) Rep for Ōita 1st |
30 June 1994 | 11 January 1996 | 560 | JSP Nihon Shakaitō |
81. Murayama (Reshuffle) JSP–LDP–NPS |
— | 1995 | [52] |
Presided over a coalition that consisted of the Liberal Democratic Party, the Socialist Party, and the New Party Sakigake. During his tenure, the Great Hanshin earthquake erupted and a Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway occurred that left 13 dead. He resigned after his party suffered defeat in the 1996 general election. Served as General Secretary of the Socialist Party. Member of the Diet from 1972 to 2000. | ||||||||||
53 | ![]() |
Ryūtarō Hashimoto 橋本 龍太郎 Hashimoto Ryūtarō (1937–2006) Rep for Okayama 4th |
11 January 1996 | 7 November 1996 | 931 | LDP Jimintō |
82. Hashimoto I LDP–JSP–NPS |
— | — | [53] |
7 November 1996 | 30 July 1998 | 83. Hashimoto II (Reshuffle) LDP–JSP–NPS |
1996 | 1998 | ||||||
He spearheaded widespread reforms during his tenure, including reforms to restructure the health, finance, and the bureaucratic system. He resigned after his party suffered massive defeat in the 1998 House of Councilors Election. He died in 2006. Served as Minister of Health (1978–1979), Minister of Transportation (1986–1987), Minister of Finance (1989–1991), Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (1994–1996). Member of the Diet from 1963 to 2005. | ||||||||||
54 | ![]() |
Keizō Obuchi 小渕 恵三 Obuchi Keizō (1937–2000) Rep for Gunma 5th |
30 July 1998 | 5 April 2000 | 615 | LDP Jimintō |
84. Obuchi (Reshuffle 1 · 2) LDP–(Lib.–NKP) |
— | — | [54] |
His government was credited with stimulating the economy after a depression caused by the bubble crash. After suffering from a stroke, he fell into a coma on 3 April, and died on 14 May 2000. Chief Cabinet Secretary Aoki Mikio served as Deputy Prime Minister until 5 April. Served as Chief of the Okinawa Development Agency (1979–1980), Minister of the Prime Minister's Office (1979–1980), Chief Cabinet Secretary (1987–1989), and Minister for Foreign Affairs (1997–1998). Member of the Diet from 1963 to 2000. | ||||||||||
55 | ![]() |
Yoshirō Mori 森 喜朗 Mori Yoshirō (1937–) Rep for Ishikawa 2nd |
5 April 2000 | 4 July 2000 | 386 | LDP Jimintō |
85. Mori I LDP–NKP–NCP |
— | — | [55] |
4 July 2000 | 26 April 2001 | 86. Mori II (Reshuffle 1 · 2) LDP–NKP–NCP |
2000 | — | ||||||
His appointment was decided after a secret meeting by major power brokers within the Liberal Democratic Party after the unexpected death of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi. His gaffes and his government's low legitimacy was detrimental to his government's approval ratings, for which he resigned in 2001. Served as Minister of Education (1983–1984), Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (1992–1993), Minister of Construction (1995–1996). Member of the Diet from 1969 to 2012. | ||||||||||
56 | ![]() |
Junichirō Koizumi 小泉 純一郎 Koizumi Jun'ichirō (1942–) Rep for Kanagawa 11th |
26 April 2001 | 19 November 2003 | 1979 | LDP Jimintō |
87. Koizumi I (Reshuffle 1 · 2) LDP–NKP–NCP |
— | 2001 | [56] |
19 November 2003 | 21 September 2005 | 88. Koizumi II (Reshuffle) LDP–NKP |
2003 | 2004 | ||||||
21 September 2005 | 26 September 2006 | 89. Koizumi III (Reshuffle) LDP–NKP |
2005 | — | ||||||
Resigned due to term limits of the Presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party. Served as Vice Minister of Finance (1979), Minister of Health and Welfare (1988–1989), Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (1992), Minister of Health and Welfare (1996–1998), and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2002). Member of Diet from 1972 to 2009. | ||||||||||
57 | ![]() |
Shinzō Abe 安倍 晋三 Abe Shinzō (1954–) Rep for Yamaguchi 4th |
26 September 2006 | 26 September 2007 | 365 | LDP Jimintō |
90. Abe S. I (Reshuffle) LDP–NKP |
— | 2007 | [57] |
Resigned after suffering from low approval ratings and poor health. Served as Chief Cabinet Secretary (2005–2006). Member of Diet since 1993. | ||||||||||
58 | ![]() |
Yasuo Fukuda 福田 康夫 Fukuda Yasuo (1936–) Rep for Gunma 4th |
26 September 2007 | 24 September 2008 | 364 | LDP Jimintō |
91. Fukuda Y. (Reshuffle) LDP–NKP |
— | — | [58] |
Resigned after asserting the need to improve the flow of the political process. Served as Minister for Okinawa Development (2000), Chief Cabinet Secretary (2000–2004), and Minister of State for Gender Equality and Social Affairs (2001–2004). Member of Diet from 1990 to 2012. | ||||||||||
59 | ![]() |
Tarō Asō 麻生 太郎 Asō Tarō (1940–) Rep for Fukuoka 8th |
24 September 2008 | 16 September 2009 | 357 | LDP Jimintō |
92. Asō LDP–NKP |
— | — | [59] |
Resigned after the 2009 general election to accept the responsibility for the worst defeat of the history of the Liberal Democratic Party. Served as Director of Economic Planning Agency (1996–1997), Minister in charge of Economic and Financial Policies (2001), Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications (2003–2005), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2005–2007), and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance (since 2012). Member of Diet since 1979. | ||||||||||
60 | ![]() |
Yukio Hatoyama 鳩山 由紀夫 Hatoyama Yukio (1947–) Rep for Hokkaido 9th |
16 September 2009 | 8 June 2010 | 265 | DPJ Minshutō |
93. Hatoyama Y. DPJ–SDP–PNP |
2009 | — | [60] |
Won a majority in the 2009 general election defeating Tarō Asō (LDP). Resigned after public uproar was spurred after he broke a campaign promise to close Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture. Member of Diet from 1986 to 2012. | ||||||||||
61 | ![]() |
Naoto Kan 菅 直人 Kan Naoto (1946–) Rep for Tokyo 18th |
8 June 2010 | 2 September 2011 | 451 | DPJ Minshutō |
94. Kan (Reshuffle 1 · 2) DPJ–PNP |
— | 2010 | [61] |
Resigned due to poor approval rate and handling of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Served as Minister of Health and Welfare (1996), Deputy Prime Minister of Japan (2009–2010), Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy (2009–2010), Minister of State in charge of National Strategy (2009–2010), Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy (2009–2010), and Minister of Finance (2010). Member of Diet since 1980. | ||||||||||
62 | ![]() |
Yoshihiko Noda 野田 佳彦 Noda Yoshihiko (1957–) Rep for Chiba 4th |
2 September 2011 | 26 December 2012 | 481 | DPJ Minshutō |
95. Noda (Reshuffle 1 · 2 · 3) DPJ–PNP |
— | — | [62] |
Resigned after the 2012 general election to accept the responsibility for the defeat of the Democratic Party. Served as Senior Vice Minister of Finance (2009–2010) and Minister of Finance (2010–2011). Member of Diet since 1993. | ||||||||||
(57) | ![]() |
Shinzō Abe 安倍 晋三 Abe Shinzō (1954–) Rep for Yamaguchi 4th |
26 December 2012 | 24 December 2014 | 1440 | LDP Jimintō |
96. Abe S. II (Reshuffle) LDP–NKP |
2012 | 2013 | [57] |
24 December 2014 | Incumbent | 97. Abe S. III (Reshuffle) LDP–KM |
2014 | 2016 | ||||||
Current Prime Minister of Japan, and first to serve non-consecutive terms since the end of the US occupation. Won a majority in the 2012 general election defeating Yoshihiko Noda (DPJ). Won the 2014 general election retaining a majority in the House of Representatives. Served as the 90th term Prime Minister (2006–2007), Chief Cabinet Secretary (2005–2006). Member of Diet since 1993. |
Timeline
![](../I/m/5cb98cde99aae7db1e6012f6e02b3692.png)
Living former Prime Ministers
Name | Term of office | Dates of birth |
---|---|---|
Yasuhiro Nakasone | 1982–1987 | 27 May 1918 |
Toshiki Kaifu | 1989–1991 | 2 January 1931 |
Morihiro Hosokawa | 1993–1994 | 14 January 1938 |
Tsutomu Hata | 1994 | 24 August 1935 |
Tomiichi Murayama | 1994–1996 | 3 March 1924 |
Yoshirō Mori | 2000–2001 | 14 July 1937 |
Junichiro Koizumi | 2001–2006 | 8 January 1942 |
Yasuo Fukuda | 2007–2008 | 16 July 1936 |
Taro Aso | 2008–2009 | 20 September 1940 |
Yukio Hatoyama | 2009–2010 | 11 February 1947 |
Naoto Kan | 2010–2011 | 10 October 1946 |
Yoshihiko Noda | 2011–2012 | 20 May 1957 |
Notes and references
- 1 2 3 4 第1•5•7•10代 伊藤 博文 [1st/5th/7th/10th Itō Hirobumi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- ↑ 第2代 黑田 清隆 [2nd Kuroda Kiyotaka] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- 1 2 第3•9代 山縣 有朋 [3rd/9th Yamagata Aritomo] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- 1 2 第4•5代 松方 正義 [3rd/9th Matsukata Masayoshi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- 1 2 第8•17代 大隈 重信 [8th/17th Ōkuma Shigenobu] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- 1 2 3 第11•13•15代 桂 太郎 [8th/17th Katsura Tarō] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- 1 2 第12•14代 西園寺 公望 [12th/14th Saionji Kinmochi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- 1 2 第16•22代 山本 權兵衞 [16th/22nd Yamamoto Gonnohyōe] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- ↑ 第18代 寺内 正毅 [18th Terauchi Masatake] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- ↑ 第19代 原 敬 [19th Hara Takashi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- ↑ 第20代 高橋 是清 [20th Takahashi Korekiyo] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- ↑ 第21代 加藤 友三郎 [21st Katō Tomosaburō] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- ↑ 第23代 清浦 奎吾 [23rd Kiyoura Keigo] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- ↑ 第24代 加藤 高明 [24th Katō Takaaki] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
- 1 2 第25•28代 若槻 禮次郎 [25th/28th Wakatsuki Reijirō] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第26代 田中 義一 [26th Tanaka Giichi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第27代 濱口 雄幸 [27th Osachi Hamaguchi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第29代 犬養 毅 [29th Inukai Tsuyoshi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第30代 齋藤 實 [30th Saito Makoto] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第31代 岡田 啓介 [31st Keisuke Okada] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第32代 廣田 弘毅 [32nd Koki Hirota] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第33代 林 銑十郎 [33rd Senjuro Hayashi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- 1 2 第34•38•39代 近衞 文麿 [34th/38th/39th Fumimaro Konoe] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第35代 平沼 騏一郎 [35th Hiranuma Kiichiro] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第36代 阿部 信行 [36th Nobuyuki Abe] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第37代 米内 光政 [37th Mitsumasa Yonai] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第40代 東條 英機 [40th Hideki Tojo] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第41代 小磯 國昭 [41st Kuniaki Koiso] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第42代 鈴木 貫太郎 [42nd Kantaro Suzuki] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第43代 東久邇宮 稔彦 王 [43rd Higashikuni Naruhiko] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第44代 幣原 喜重郎 [44th Kijuro Shidehara] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- 1 2 第45•48•49•50•51代 吉田 茂 [45th/48th/49th/50th/51st Shigeru Yoshida] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第46代 片山 哲 [46th Tetsu Katayama] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第47代 芦田 均 [47th Hitoshi Ashida] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第52•53•54代 鳩山 一郎 [52nd/53rd/54th Sosuke Uno] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第55代 石橋 湛山 [55th Tanzan Ishibashi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第56•57代 岸 信介 [56th/57th Nobusuke Kishi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第58•59•60代 池田 勇人 [58th/59th/60th Hayato Ikeda] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第61•62•63代 佐藤 榮作 [61st/62nd/63rd Eisaku Sato] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第64•65代 田中 角榮 [64th/65th Kakuei Tanaka] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第66代 三木 武夫 [66th Takeo Miki] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第67代 福田 赳夫 [67th Takeo Fukuda] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第68•69代 大平 正芳 [68/69th Masayoshi Ohira] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第70代 鈴木 善幸 [70th Zenkō Suzuki] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第71•72•73代 中曽根 康弘 [71st/72nd/73rd Yasuhiro Nakasone] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第74代 竹下 登 [74th Noboru Takeshita] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
- ↑ 第75代 宇野 宗佑 [75th Sosuke Uno] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ 第76•77代 海部 俊樹 [76th/77th Toshiki Kaifu] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ 第78代 宮澤 喜一 [78th Kiichi Miyazawa] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ 第79代 細川 護煕 [79th Morihiro Hosokawa] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ 第80代 羽田 孜 [80th Tsutomu Hata] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ 第81代 村山 富市 [81st Tomiichi Murayama] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ 第82•83代 橋本 龍太郎 [82nd/83rd Ryutaro Hashimoto] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ 第84代 小渕 恵三 [84th Keizo Obuchi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ 第85•86代 森 喜朗 [85th/86th Yoshiro Mori] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ 第87•88•89代 小泉 純一郎 [87th/88th/89th Junichiro Koizumi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- 1 2 第90•96•97代 安倍 晋三 [90th/96th/97th Shinzo Abe] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ 第91代 福田 康夫 [91st Yasuo Fukuda] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ 第92代 麻生 太郎 [92nd Tarō Asō] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ 第93代 鳩山 由紀夫 [93rd Yukio Hatoyama] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ 第94代 菅 直人 [94th Naoto Kan] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ 第95代 野田 佳彦 [95th Yoshihiko Noda] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 26 December 2012.