List of prime ministers of Japan

Shinzō Abe was appointed prime minister for the second time on 26 December 2012

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. Those 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.

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, Hatoyama Yukio is listed as the 60th individual to hold the office of prime minister, while his first cabinet is the 93rd since Itō Hirobumi.

Key

Military and non-partisan:

•   None
•   Imperial Rule Assistance Association
•   Military
•   The Imperial Family

Meiji era liberals, conservative mainstream:

•   Kenseitō
•   Rikken Seiyūkai
•   Japan Liberal
•   Democratic Liberal – Liberal

Prewar liberals:

•   Rikken Dōshikai
•   Kenseikai
•   Rikken Minseitō
•   Democratic – Japan Democratic
•   Japan Progressive Party

Unified conservatives:

•   Liberal Democratic

Modern era reformist conservatives, liberals, socialists:

•   Renewal
•   Japan New
•   Democratic
•   Socialist

Empire of Japan (1868–1947)

Daijō-daijin (Chancellor of the Realm)

The office of Daijō-daijin (太政大臣, Chancellor of the Realm of Japan) was the equivalent of what would become the office of Prime Minister. It was an ancient role that had been discontinued in the 18th century and was briefly revived under the Meiji constitution.

• 1871–1885 Sanjō Sanetomi (三条実美) (1837–1891)

The office of Daijō-daijin was abolished in December 1885 with the appointment of Itō Hirobumi in the new position of Prime Minister.

Portrait		Prime Minister (Birth–Death)	Term of office & mandate Duration in years and days			Party	Government	Monarch (Reign)	Ref.
bgcolor="Template:Nonpartisan/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Count Itō Hirobumi 伊藤 博文 (1841–1909)	22 December 1885	30 April 1888	—	None	1. Itō I	Meiji (1867–1912)
2 years and 131 days
bgcolor="Template:Nonpartisan/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Count Kuroda Kiyotaka 黒田 清隆 (1840–1900)	30 April 1888	25 October 1889	—	None	2. Kuroda
1 year and 179 days
bgcolor="Template:Nonpartisan/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Prince Sanjō Sanetomi 三條 實美 (1837–1891)	25 October 1889	24 December 1889	—	None	Sanjō (interim)
61 days
bgcolor="Template:Military (Japan)/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Count Yamagata Aritomo 山縣 有朋 (1838–1922)	24 December 1889	6 May 1891	—	Military (Army)	3. Yamagata I
1890
1 year and 134 days
bgcolor="Template:Nonpartisan/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Count Matsukata Masayoshi 松方 正義 (1835–1924)	6 May 1891	8 August 1892	1892	None	4. Matsukata I
1892
1 year and 95 days
bgcolor="Template:Nonpartisan/meta/color" rowspan=4 |		Marquess Itō Hirobumi 伊藤 博文 (1841–1909)	8 August 1892	31 August 1896	—	None	5. Itō II
Mar. 1894
Sep. 1894
4 years and 24 days
During this interval, Privy Council Chairman Kuroda Kiyotaka was the acting Prime Minister.
bgcolor="Template:Nonpartisan/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Count Matsukata Masayoshi 松方 正義 (1835–1924)	18 September 1896	12 January 1898	—	None	6. Matsukata II
1 year and 117 days
bgcolor="Template:Nonpartisan/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Marquess Itō Hirobumi 伊藤 博文 (1841–1909)	12 January 1898	30 June 1898	—	None	7. Itō III
Mar. 1898
170 days
bgcolor="Template:Kenseito/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Count Ōkuma Shigenobu 大隈 重信 (1838–1922)	30 June 1898	8 November 1898	—	Kenseitō	8. Ōkuma I
Aug. 1898
132 days
bgcolor="Template:Military (Japan)/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Count Yamagata Aritomo 山縣 有朋 (1838–1922)	8 November 1898	19 October 1900	—	Military (Army)	9. Yamagata II
1 year and 346 days
bgcolor="Template:Rikken Seiyukai/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Marquess Itō Hirobumi 伊藤 博文 (1841–1909)	19 October 1900	10 May 1901	—	Rikken Seiyukai	10. Itō IV
204 days
During this interval, Privy Council Chairman Saionji Kinmochi was the acting Prime Minister.
bgcolor="Template:Military (Japan)/meta/color" rowspan=5 |		Count Katsura Tarō 桂 太郎 (1838–1922)	2 June 1901	7 January 1906	—	Military (Army)	11. Katsura I
1902
1903
1904
4 years and 220 days
bgcolor="Template:Rikken Seiyukai/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Marquess Saionji Kinmochi 西園寺 公望 (1849–1940)	7 January 1906	14 July 1908	—	Rikken Seiyukai	12. Saionji I
1908
2 years and 190 days
bgcolor="Template:Military (Japan)/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Prince Katsura Tarō 桂 太郎 (1838–1922)	14 July 1908	30 August 1911	—	Military (Army)	13. Katsura II
3 years and 48 days
bgcolor="Template:Rikken Seiyukai/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Marquess Saionji Kinmochi 西園寺 公望 (1849–1940)	30 August 1911	21 December 1912	—	Rikken Seiyukai	14. Saionji II
1912
1 year and 114 days			Taishō (1912–1926)
bgcolor="Template:Nonpartisan/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Prince Katsura Tarō 桂 太郎 (1838–1922)		21 December 1912	20 February 1913	—	None	15. Katsura III
62 days
bgcolor="Template:Military (Japan)/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Count Yamamoto Gonnohyōe 山本 權兵衛 (1852–1933)		20 February 1913	16 April 1914	—	Military (Navy)	16. Yamamoto I
1 year and 56 days
bgcolor="Template:Rikken Doshikai/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Marquess Ōkuma Shigenobu 大隈 重信 (1838–1922)		16 April 1914	9 October 1916	—	Rikken Doshikai	17. Ōkuma II
1915
2 years and 177 days
bgcolor="Template:Military (Japan)/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Count Terauchi Masatake 寺内 正毅 (1852–1919)		9 October 1916	29 September 1918	—	Military (Army)	18. Terauchi
1917
1 year and 356 days
bgcolor="Template:Rikken Seiyukai/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Hara Takashi 原 敬 (1856–1921)		29 September 1918	4 November 1921	—	Rikken Seiyukai	19. Hara
1920
3 years and 37 days[†]
During this interval, Privy Council Chairman Uchida Kosai was the acting Prime Minister.
bgcolor="Template:Rikken Seiyukai/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Viscount Takahashi Korekiyo 高橋 是清 (1854–1936)	13 November 1921	12 June 1922	—	Rikken Seiyukai	20. Takahashi
212 days
bgcolor="Template:Military (Japan)/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Baron Katō Tomosaburō 加藤 友三郎 (1861–1923)	12 June 1922	24 August 1923	—	Military (Navy)	21. Katō To.
1 year and 74 days[†]
During this interval, Privy Council Chairman Uchida Kosai was the acting Prime Minister.
bgcolor="Template:Military (Japan)/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Count Yamamoto Gonnohyōe 山本 權兵衛 (1852–1933)	2 September 1923	7 January 1924	—	Military (Navy)	22. Yamamoto II
128 days
bgcolor="Template:Nonpartisan/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Viscount Kiyoura Keigo 清浦 奎吾 (1850–1942)	7 January 1924	11 June 1924	—	None	23. Kiyoura
157 days
bgcolor="Template:Kenseikai/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Viscount Katō Takaaki 加藤 高明 (1860–1926)	11 June 1924	28 January 1926	1924	Kenseikai	24. Katō Ta.
1 year and 232 days[†]
During this interval, Interior Minister Wakatsuki Reijirō was the acting Prime Minister.
bgcolor="Template:Kenseikai/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Wakatsuki Reijirō 若槻 禮次郎 (1866–1949)	30 January 1926	20 April 1927	—	Kenseikai	25. Wakatsuki I
1 year and 81 days			Shōwa (1926–1989)
bgcolor="Template:Rikken Seiyukai/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Baron Tanaka Giichi 田中 義一 (1864–1929)		20 April 1927	2 July 1929	—	Rikken Seiyukai	26. Tanaka G.
1928
2 years and 74 days
bgcolor="Template:Rikken Minseito/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Osachi Hamaguchi 濱口 雄幸 (1870–1931)		2 July 1929	14 April 1931	—	Rikken Minseito	27. Hamaguchi
1930
1 year and 287 days
bgcolor="Template:Rikken Minseito/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Baron Wakatsuki Reijirō 若槻 禮次郎 (1866–1949)		14 April 1931	13 December 1931	—	Rikken Minseito	28. Wakatsuki II
244 days
bgcolor="Template:Rikken Seiyukai/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Inukai Tsuyoshi 犬養 毅 (1855–1932)		13 December 1931	15 May 1932	—	Rikken Seiyukai	29. Inukai
1932
155 days[†]
During this interval, Finance Minister Takahashi Korekiyo was the acting Prime Minister.
bgcolor="Template:Military (Japan)/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Viscount Saitō Makoto 齋藤 實 (1858–1936)	26 May 1932	8 July 1934	—	Military (Navy)	30. Saitō
2 years and 44 days
bgcolor="Template:Military (Japan)/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Keisuke Okada 岡田 啓介 (1868–1952)	8 July 1934	9 March 1936	—	Military (Navy)	31. Okada
1936
1 year and 246 days
bgcolor="Template:Nonpartisan/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Kōki Hirota 廣田 弘毅 (1878–1948)	9 March 1936	2 February 1937	—	None	32. Hirota
331 days
bgcolor="Template:Military (Japan)/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Senjūrō Hayashi 林 銑十郞 (1876–1943)	2 February 1937	4 June 1937	—	Military (Army)	33. Hayashi
1937
123 days
bgcolor="Template:Nonpartisan/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Prince Fumimaro Konoe 近衞 文麿 (1891–1945)	4 June 1937	5 January 1939	—	None	34. Konoe I
1 year and 216 days
bgcolor="Template:Nonpartisan/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Baron Hiranuma Kiichirō 平沼 騏一郞 (1867–1952)	5 January 1939	30 August 1939	—	None	35. Hiranuma
238 days
bgcolor="Template:Military (Japan)/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Nobuyuki Abe 阿部 信行 (1875–1953)	30 August 1939	16 January 1940	—	Military (Army)	36. Abe N.
140 days
bgcolor="Template:Military (Japan)/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Mitsumasa Yonai 米内 光政 (1880–1948)	16 January 1940	22 July 1940	—	Military (Navy)	37. Yonai
189 days
bgcolor="Template:Nonpartisan/meta/color" rowspan=1 |		Prince Fumimaro Konoe 近衞 文麿 (1891–1945)	22 July 1940	18 October 1941	—	None	38. Konoe II
bgcolor="Template:Imperial Rule Assistance Association/meta/color" rowspan=2 |						Taisei Yokusankai
1 year and 89 days			39. Konoe III
bgcolor="Template:Imperial Rule Assistance Association/meta/color" rowspan=3 |		Hideki Tōjō 東條 英機 (1884–1948)	18 October 1941	22 July 1944	—	Taisei Yokusankai	40. Tōjō
1942
2 years and 279 days
bgcolor="Template:Imperial Rule Assistance Association/meta/color" rowspan=2 |		Kuniaki Koiso 小磯 國昭 (1880–1950)	22 July 1944	7 April 1945	—	Taisei Yokusankai	41. Koiso
260 days
bgcolor="Template:Imperial Rule Assistance Association/meta/color" rowspan=1 |		Baron Kantarō Suzuki 鈴木 貫太郞 (1868–1948)	7 April 1945	17 August 1945	—	Taisei Yokusankai	42. Suzuki K.
bgcolor="Template:Nonpartisan/meta/color" rowspan=1 |			1 year and 133 days			None
		Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni 東久邇宮稔彦王 (1887–1990)	17 August 1945	9 October 1945	—	Imperial Family	43. Higashikuni no miya
			54 days
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Japan Progressive Party/meta/color;"|		Baron Kijūrō Shidehara 幣原 喜重郞 (1872–1951)	9 October 1945	22 May 1946	—	Progressive	44. Shidehara
226 days
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Party (Japan, 1945)/meta/color;"|		Shigeru Yoshida 吉田 茂 (1878–1967)	22 May 1946	24 May 1947	1946	Liberal	45. Yoshida I
1 year and 3 days

State of Japan (from 1947)

Prime Ministers during the Shōwa period (1947–1989)

Under the Emperor Shōwa

№	Prime Minister		Term of office			Political Party	Government	Elected		Ref
	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took Office	Left Office	Days			Gen.	Coun.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Japan Socialist Party/meta/color; color:white"|33		Tetsu Katayama 片山 哲 Katayama Tetsu (1887–1978) Rep for Kanagawa 3rd	24 May 1947	10 March 1948	291	style="background:Template:Japan Socialist Party/meta/color;"|JSP Nihon Shakaitō	46. Katayama JSP–DP–PCP	1947	1947
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.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Democratic Party (Japan, 1947)/meta/color; color:white"| 34		Hitoshi Ashida 芦田 均 Ashida Hitoshi (1887–1959) Rep for Kyōto 2nd	10 March 1948	15 October 1948	219	style="background:Template:Democratic Party (Japan, 1947)/meta/color;"|DP Minshutō	47. Ashida DP–JSP–PCP	—	—
Under Allied Occupation. Ashida's cabinet resigned after seven months in office, due to alleged ministerial corruption in the Showa Electric scandal.
rowspan=5 style="background:Template:Democratic Liberal Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|(32)		Shigeru Yoshida 吉田 茂 Yoshida Shigeru (1878–1967) Rep for Kōchi At-large	15 October 1948	16 February 1949	2247	rowspan=4 style="background:Template:Democratic Liberal Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|DLP Minshu Jiyūtō (until 1950); Liberal Jiyūtō	48. Yoshida II DLP	—	—
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.
rowspan=2 style="border-bottom:solid 0 gray; background:Template:Japan Democratic Party (1954)/meta/color; color:white" valign=bottom| 35		Ichirō Hatoyama 鳩山 一郎 Hatoyama Ichirō (1883–1959) Rep for Tokyo 1st	10 December 1954	19 March 1955	744	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Japan Democratic Party (1954)/meta/color;"|JDP Nihon Minshutō	52. Hatoyama I. I JDP	—	—
19 March 1955			22 November 1955	53. Hatoyama I. II JDP		1955	—
rowspan=2 style="border-top:solid 0 gray; background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|			22 November 1955	23 December 1956		style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|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.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 36		Tanzan Ishibashi 石橋 湛山 Ishibashi Tanzan (1884–1973) Rep for Shizuoka 2nd	23 December 1956	25 February 1957	64	style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	55. Ishibashi LDP	—	1956
Incapacitated due to minor stroke on 31 January 1957. Foreign Minister Kishi Nobusuke served as Deputy Prime Minister until 25 February 1957.
rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 37		Nobusuke Kishi 岸 信介 Kishi Nobusuke (1896–1987) Rep for Yamaguchi 1st	25 February 1957	12 June 1958	1240	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	56. Kishi I (Reshuffle) LDP	—	—
12 June 1958			19 July 1960	57. Kishi II (Reshuffle) LDP		1958	1959
rowspan=4 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 38		Hayato Ikeda 池田 勇人 Ikeda Hayato (1899–1965) Rep for Hiroshima 2nd	19 July 1960	8 December 1960	1574	rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	58. Ikeda I LDP	—	—
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	—
rowspan=4 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 39		Eisaku Satō 佐藤 榮作 Satō Eisaku (1901–1975) Rep for Yamaguchi 2nd	9 November 1964	17 February 1967	2797	rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	61. Satō I (Reshuffle 1 · 2 · 3) LDP	—	1965
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
rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 40		Kakuei Tanaka 田中 角榮 Tanaka Kakuei (1918–1993) Rep for Niigata 3rd	7 July 1972	22 December 1972	885	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	64. Tanaka K. I LDP	—	—
22 December 1972			9 December 1974	65. Tanaka K. II (Reshuffle 1 · 2) LDP		1972	—
resigned in the midst of scandal. Later, "shadow shogun".
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 41		Takeo Miki 三木 武夫 Miki Takeo (1907–1988) Rep for Tokushima At-large	9 December 1974	24 December 1976	746	style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	66. Miki (Reshuffle) LDP	—	1974
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 42		Takeo Fukuda 福田 赳夫 Fukuda Takeo (1905–1995) Rep for Gunma 3rd	24 December 1976	7 December 1978	713	style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	67. Fukuda T. (Reshuffle) LDP	1976	1977
rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 43		Masayoshi Ōhira 大平 正芳 Ōhira Masayoshi (1910–1980) Rep for Kagawa 2nd	7 December 1978	9 November 1979	553	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	68. Ōhira I LDP	—	—
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.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 44		Zenkō Suzuki 鈴木 善幸 Suzuki Zenkō (1911–2004) Rep for Iwate 1st	17 July 1980	27 November 1982	863	style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	70. Suzuki Z. (Reshuffle) LDP	1980	1980
rowspan=4 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 45		Yasuhiro Nakasone 中曽根　康弘 Nakasone Yasuhiro (1918–) Rep for Gunma 3rd	27 November 1982	27 December 1983	1805	rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	71. Nakasone I LDP	—	—
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
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 46		Noboru Takeshita 竹下 登 Takeshita Noboru (1924–2000) Rep for Shimane At-large	6 November 1987	3 June 1989	575	style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	74. Takeshita (Reshuffle) LDP	—	—
The Recruit scandal forced his resignation in 1989. Later "Shadow Shogun."

Prime Ministers during the Heisei period (1989–2019)

Under the Emperor Akihito

№	Prime Minister		Term of office			Political Party	Government	Elected		Ref
	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took Office	Left Office	Days			Gen.	Coun.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 47		Sōsuke Uno 宇野 宗佑 Uno Sōsuke (1922–1998) Rep for Shiga At-large	3 June 1989	10 August 1989	68	style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	75. Uno LDP	—	1989
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. 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.
rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 48		Toshiki Kaifu 海部 俊樹 Kaifu Toshiki (1931–) Rep for Aichi 3rd	10 August 1989	28 February 1990	817	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	76. Kaifu I LDP	—	—
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.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 49		Kiichi Miyazawa 宮澤 喜一 Miyazawa Kiichi (1919–2007) Rep for Hiroshima 3rd	5 November 1991	9 August 1993	643	style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	78. Miyazawa (Reshuffle) LDP	—	1992
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).
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Japan New Party/meta/color; color:white"| 50		Morihiro Hosokawa 細川 護熙 Hosokawa Morihiro (1938–) Rep for Kumamoto 1st	9 August 1993	28 April 1994	262	style="background:Template:Japan New Party/meta/color;"|JNP Nihon Shintō	79. Hosokawa JNP–JSP–JRP–Komeitō–NPS–DSP–SDF	1993	—
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.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Japan Renewal Party/meta/color; color:white"| 51		Tsutomu Hata 羽田 孜 Hata Tsutomu (1935–2017) Rep for Nagano 2nd	28 April 1994	30 June 1994	63	style="background:Template:Japan Renewal Party/meta/color;"|JRP Shinseitō	80. Hata JRP–JNP–JSP–SDP–SDF–Komeitō–NPS	—	—
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.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Japan Socialist Party/meta/color; color:white"| 52		Tomiichi Murayama 村山 富市 Murayama Tomiichi (1924–) Rep for Ōita 1st	30 June 1994	11 January 1996	560	style="background:Template:Japan Socialist Party/meta/color;"|JSP Nihon Shakaitō	81. Murayama (Reshuffle) JSP–LDP–NPS	—	1995
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.
rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 53		Ryūtarō Hashimoto 橋本 龍太郎 Hashimoto Ryūtarō (1937–2006) Rep for Okayama 4th	11 January 1996	7 November 1996	931	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	82. Hashimoto I LDP–JSP–NPS	—	—
7 November 1996			30 July 1998	83. Hashimoto II (Reshuffle) LDP–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.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 54		Keizō Obuchi 小渕 恵三 Obuchi Keizō (1937–2000) Rep for Gunma 5th	30 July 1998	5 April 2000	615	style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	84. Obuchi (Reshuffle 1 · 2) LDP–(Lib.–Komeitō)	—	—
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.
rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 55		Yoshirō Mori 森 喜朗 Mori Yoshirō (1937–) Rep for Ishikawa 2nd	5 April 2000	4 July 2000	386	rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	85. Mori I LDP–Komeitō–NCP	—	—
4 July 2000			26 April 2001	86. Mori II (Reshuffle 1 · 2) LDP–Komeitō–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.
rowspan=4 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white"| 56		Junichirō Koizumi 小泉 純一郎 Koizumi Jun'ichirō (1942–) Rep for Kanagawa 11th	26 April 2001	19 November 2003	1979	rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	87. Koizumi I (Reshuffle 1 · 2) LDP–Komeitō–NCP	—	2001
19 November 2003			21 September 2005	88. Koizumi II (Reshuffle) LDP–Komeitō		2003	2004
21 September 2005			26 September 2006	89. Koizumi III (Reshuffle) LDP–Komeitō		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.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white;"| 57		Shinzō Abe 安倍 晋三 Abe Shinzō (1954–) Rep for Yamaguchi 4th	26 September 2006	26 September 2007	365	style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	90. Abe S. I (Reshuffle) LDP–Komeitō	—	2007
Resigned after suffering from low approval ratings and poor health. Served as Chief Cabinet Secretary (2005–2006). Member of Diet since 1993.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white;"| 58		Yasuo Fukuda 福田 康夫 Fukuda Yasuo (1936–) Rep for Gunma 4th	26 September 2007	24 September 2008	364	style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	91. Fukuda Y. (Reshuffle) LDP–Komeitō	—	—
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.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white;"| 59		Tarō Asō 麻生 太郎 Asō Tarō (1940–) Rep for Fukuoka 8th	24 September 2008	16 September 2009	357	style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	92. Asō LDP–Komeitō	—	—
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.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Democratic Party (Japan, 1998)/meta/color; color:white"| 60		Yukio Hatoyama 鳩山 由紀夫 Hatoyama Yukio (1947–) Rep for Hokkaido 9th	16 September 2009	8 June 2010	265	style="background:Template:Democratic Party (Japan, 1998)/meta/color;"|DPJ Minshutō	93. Hatoyama Y. DPJ–SDP–PNP	2009	—
Won a majority in the 2009 general election defeating Tarō Asō (LDP). Resigned after breaking a campaign promise to close Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture. Member of Diet from 1986 to 2012.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Democratic Party (Japan, 1998)/meta/color; color:white"| 61		Naoto Kan 菅 直人 Kan Naoto (1946–) Rep for Tokyo 18th	8 June 2010	2 September 2011	451	style="background:Template:Democratic Party (Japan, 1998)/meta/color;"|DPJ Minshutō	94. Kan (Reshuffle 1 · 2) DPJ–PNP	—	2010
Resigned due to poor approval ratings after 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.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Democratic Party (Japan, 1998)/meta/color; color:white"| 62		Yoshihiko Noda 野田 佳彦 Noda Yoshihiko (1957–) Rep for Chiba 4th	2 September 2011	26 December 2012	481	style="background:Template:Democratic Party (Japan, 1998)/meta/color;"|DPJ Minshutō	95. Noda (Reshuffle 1 · 2 · 3) DPJ–PNP	—	—
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.
rowspan=4 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white;"|(57)		Shinzō Abe 安倍 晋三 Abe Shinzō (1954–) Rep for Yamaguchi 4th	26 December 2012	24 December 2014	4198	rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	96. Abe S. II (Reshuffle) LDP–Komeitō	2012	2013
24 December 2014			1 November 2017	97. Abe S. III (Reshuffle 1 · 2 · 3) LDP–Komeitō		2014	2016
1 November 2017			1 May 2019	98. Abe S. IV (Reshuffle 1) LDP–Komeitō		2017	—
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 and 2017 general elections 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.

Prime Ministers during the Reiwa period (from 2019)

Under Emperor Naruhito

№	Prime Minister		Term of office			Political Party	Government	Elected		Ref
	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took Office	Left Office	Days			Gen.	Coun.
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color; color:white;"|(57)		Shinzō Abe 安倍 晋三 Abe Shinzō (1954–) Rep for Yamaguchi 4th	1 May 2019	Incumbent	4198	rowspan=1 style="background:Template:Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)/meta/color;"|LDP Jimintō	98. Abe S. IV (Reshuffle 1) LDP–Komeitō	2017	—
Prime Minister during 2019 Japanese imperial transition.

Timeline

Rank by length of total tenures

Rank	Prime Minister	Party	Start of 1st Administration	Terms	Days (*)
1	Katsura Tarō	None	1902	3	2883
2	Eisaku Satō	LDP	1964	3	2797
3	Itō Hirobumi	None	1885	4	2716
4	Shinzō Abe	LDP	2006	4	4563 (incumbent)
5	Shigeru Yoshida (1)	Liberal/DLP/Liberal	1948	5	2614
6	Junichirō Koizumi (2)	LDP	2001	3	1979
7	Yasuhiro Nakasone	LDP	1982	3	1805
8	Hayato Ikeda	LDP	1960	3	1574
9	Saionji Kinmochi	Rikken Seiyūkai	1908	2	1398
10	Nobusuke Kishi	LDP	1957	2	1240
11	Yamagata Aritomo	None	1889	2	1208
12	Hara Takashi (3)	Rikken Seiyūkai	1918	1	1132
13	Ōkuma Shigenobu	Kenseitō	1898	2	1038
14	Fumimaro Konoe	None/IRAA	1937	3	1033
15	Tōjō Hideki	IRAA	1941	1	1008
16	Matsukata Masayoshi	None	1891	2	941
17	Ryūtarō Hashimoto	LDP	1996	2	931
18	Kakuei Tanaka	LDP	1972	2	885
19	Zenkō Suzuki	LDP	1980	1	863
20	Toshiki Kaifu	LDP	1989	2	817
21	Tanaka Giichi	Rikken Seiyūkai	1927	1	804
22	Saitō Makoto	Military	1934	1	773
23	Ichirō Hatoyama	JDP/LDP	1954	3	744

(*) The table only includes PMs who have cumulatively served 2 years (730 days) or more. A fully detailed list is available at List of Japanese prime ministers by longevity.

1. Served under the Allied Occupation of Japan until 28 April 1952
2. Resigned due to the term-limit of the LDP presidency
3. Assassinated in office (the only other PM killed in office was Inukai Tsuyoshi)

Living former Prime Ministers

As of June 2024, eleven former Prime Ministers of Japan are alive. The most recent death of a former Prime Minister of Japan is that of Tsutomu Hata (as Prime Minister in 1994) on 28 August 2017. Shinzō Abe, who served as Prime Minister from 2006 to 2007, is currently serving (since 2012) and thus isn't included on this list.

Number	Name	Tenure	Date of birth	Age
1	Yasuhiro Nakasone	1982–1987	(1918-05-27)27 May 1918	106
2	Tomiichi Murayama	1994–1996	(1924-03-03)3 March 1924	100
3	Toshiki Kaifu	1989–1991	(1931-01-02)2 January 1931	93
4	Yasuo Fukuda	2007–2008	(1936-07-16)16 July 1936	87
5	Yoshirō Mori	2000–2001	(1937-07-14)14 July 1937	86
6	Morihiro Hosokawa	1993–1994	(1938-01-14)14 January 1938	86
7	Tarō Asō	2008–2009	(1940-09-20)20 September 1940	83
8	Junichiro Koizumi	2001–2006	(1942-01-08)8 January 1942	82
9	Naoto Kan	2010–2011	(1946-10-10)10 October 1946	77
10	Yukio Hatoyama	2009–2010	(1947-02-11)11 February 1947	77
11	Yoshihiko Noda	2011–2012	(1957-05-20)20 May 1957	67

Relations between Japanese prime ministers

1. Nobusuke Kishi and Eisaku Satō: brothers
2. Nobusuke Kishi and Shinzō Abe: grandfather and grandson
3. Takeo Fukuda and Yasuo Fukuda: father and son
4. Ichirō Hatoyama and Yukio Hatoyama: grandfather and grandson
5. Prince Fumimaro Konoe and Morihiro Hosokawa: grandfather and grandson
6. Shigeru Yoshida and Tarō Asō: grandfather and grandson
7. Zenkō Suzuki and Tarō Asō: father-in-law and son-in-law

See also

• List of Deputy Prime Ministers of Japan

External links

• Official Website of the Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinets