List of Prime Ministers of Japan

Shinzō Abe was appointed prime minister 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, whilst his first cabinet is the 93rd since Itō Hirobumi.

Key

Military and non-partisan:

Meiji era liberals, conservative mainstream:

Prewar liberals:

Unified conservatives:

Modern era reformist conservatives, liberals, socialists:

Prime Ministers of the Empire of Japan (1868–1947)

Daijō-daijin (Chancellor of the Realm) during the Meiji period

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.

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

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
黒田 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. He had previously held the office of Daijō-daijin, or chancellor of the Realm, the predecessor office of the Prime Ministership.
3 Yamagata Aritomo
山縣 有朋
Yamagata Aritomo
(1838–1922)
24 December 1889 6 May 1891 498 Military (Army) 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 Military (Army) 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 Military (Army) 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 Military (Army) 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]
Invasion of Manchuria, official start of World War II in Asia.
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]
War Criminal; executed in 1948.
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]
War Criminal: committed suicide rather than face arrest
24 Hiranuma Kiichirō
平沼 騏一郞
Hiranuma Kiichirō
(1867–1952)
5 January 1939 30 August 1939 237 None 35. Hiranuma [24]
War Criminal; died in prison.
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
War Criminal: Committed suicide in 1945 rather than face arrest.
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]
War Criminal: Bombed Pearl Harbor; executed in 1948
28 Kuniaki Koiso
小磯國昭
Koiso Kuniaki
(1880–1950)
22 July 1944 7 April 1945 259 IRAA
Taisei Yokusankai
41. Koiso [28]
War Criminal: Died in Prison.
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
JSPDPPCP
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
DPJSPPCP
[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/LiberalDP
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
resigned in the midst of scandal. Later, "shadow shogun".
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)
LDPNLC
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]
The Recruit scandal forced his resignation in 1989. Later "Shadow Shogun."

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. 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
JNPJSPJRPKomeitōNPSDSP–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
(1935–2017)
Rep for Nagano 2nd
28 April 1994 30 June 1994 63 JRP
Shinseitō
80. Hata
JRPJNPJSPSDP–SDF–KomeitōNPS
[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)
JSPLDPNPS
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
LDPJSPNPS
[53]
7 November 1996 30 July 1998 83. Hashimoto II
(Reshuffle)
LDPJSPNPS
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.Komeitō)
[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
LDPKomeitōNCP
[55]
4 July 2000 26 April 2001 86. Mori II
(Reshuffle 1 · 2)
LDPKomeitōNCP
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)
LDPKomeitōNCP
2001 [56]
19 November 2003 21 September 2005 88. Koizumi II
(Reshuffle)
LDPKomeitō
2003 2004
21 September 2005 26 September 2006 89. Koizumi III
(Reshuffle)
LDPKomeitō
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)
LDPKomeitō
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)
LDPKomeitō
[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
LDPKomeitō
[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.
DPJSDPPNP
2009 [60]
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.
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)
DPJPNP
2010 [61]
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.
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)
DPJPNP
[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 2116 LDP
Jimintō
96. Abe S. II
(Reshuffle)
LDPKomeitō
2012 2013 [57]
24 December 2014 1 November 2017 97. Abe S. III
(Reshuffle 1 · 2 · 3)
LDPKomeitō
2014 2016
1 November 2017 Incumbent 98. Abe S. IV
(Reshuffle 1)
LDPKomeitō
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.

Timeline

Yoshihiko NodaNaoto KanYukio HatoyamaTaro AsoYasuo FukudaShinzo AbeJunichiro KoizumiYoshiro MoriKeizo ObuchiRyutaro HashimotoTomiichi MurayamaTsutomu HataMorihiro HosokawaKiichi MiyazawaToshiki KaifuSosuke UnoNoboru TakeshitaYasuhiro NakasoneZenko SuzukiMasayoshi ItoMasayoshi OhiraTakeo FukudaTakeo MikiKakuei TanakaEisaku SatoHayato IkedaNobusuke KishiTanzan IshibashiIchiro HatoyamaHitoshi AshidaTetsu KatayamaShigeru YoshidaKijūrō ShideharaPrince Naruhiko HigashikuniKantarō SuzukiKuniaki KoisoHideki TojoMitsumasa YonaiNobuyuki AbeHiranuma KiichirōFumimaro KonoeSenjūrō HayashiKōki HirotaKeisuke OkadaSaitō MakotoInukai TsuyoshiOsachi HamaguchiTanaka GiichiWakatsuki ReijirōKatō TakaakiKiyoura KeigoKatō TomosaburōTakahashi KorekiyoHara TakashiTerauchi MasatakeYamamoto GonnohyōeSaionji KinmochiKatsura TarōŌkuma ShigenobuMatsukata MasayoshiYamagata AritomoKuroda KiyotakaIto Hirobumi

Rank by length of consecutive tenures

RankPrime MinisterPartyStart of 1st
Administration
TermsDays (*)
1Katsura TarōNone190232883
2Eisaku SatōLDP196432797
3Itō HirobumiNone188542716
4Shigeru Yoshida (1)Liberal/DLP/Liberal194852614
5Shinzō AbeLDP200642481 (incumbent)
6Junichirō Koizumi (2)LDP200131979
7Yasuhiro NakasoneLDP198231805
8Hayato IkedaLDP196031574
9Saionji KinmochiRikken Seiyūkai190821398
10Nobusuke KishiLDP195721240
11Yamagata AritomoNone188921208
12Hara Takashi (3)Rikken Seiyūkai191811132
13Ōkuma ShigenobuKenseitō189821038
14Fumimaro KonoeNone/IRAA193731033
15Tōjō HidekiIRAA194111008
16Matsukata MasayoshiNone18912941
17Ryūtarō HashimotoLDP19962931
18Kakuei TanakaLDP19722885
19Zenkō SuzukiLDP19801863
20Toshiki KaifuLDP19892817
21Tanaka GiichiRikken Seiyūkai19271804
22Saitō MakotoMilitary19341773
23Ichirō HatoyamaJDP/LDP19543744

(*) 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 October 2018, eleven former Prime Ministers of Japan are alive. The most recent death of a former Prime Minister of Japan is that of Tsutomu Hata (1994) on August 28, 2017. Shinzō Abe, who served as Prime Minister from 2006 to 2007, is currently serving and thus is not included on this list.

NumberNameTenureDate of birthAge
1Yasuhiro Nakasone1982–198727 May 1918100
2Toshiki Kaifu1989–19912 January 193187
3Morihiro Hosokawa1993–199414 January 193880
4Tomiichi Murayama1994–19963 March 192494
5Yoshirō Mori2000–200114 July 193781
6Junichiro Koizumi2001–20068 January 194276
7Yasuo Fukuda2007–200816 July 193682
8Taro Aso2008–200920 September 194078
9Yukio Hatoyama2009–201011 February 194771
10Naoto Kan2010–201110 October 194672
11Yoshihiko Noda2011–201220 May 195761

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

Notes and references

  1. 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.
  2. 第2代 黑田 清隆 [2nd Kuroda Kiyotaka] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 第18代 寺内 正毅 [18th Terauchi Masatake] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  10. 第19代 原 敬 [19th Hara Takashi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  11. 第20代 高橋 是清 [20th Takahashi Korekiyo] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  12. 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.
  13. 第23代 清浦 奎吾 [23rd Kiyoura Keigo] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  14. 第24代 加藤 高明 [24th Katō Takaaki] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  15. 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.
  16. 第26代 田中 義一 [26th Tanaka Giichi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  17. 第27代 濱口 雄幸 [27th Osachi Hamaguchi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  18. 第29代 犬養 毅 [29th Inukai Tsuyoshi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  19. 第30代 齋藤 實 [30th Saito Makoto] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  20. 第31代 岡田 啓介 [31st Keisuke Okada] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  21. 第32代 廣田 弘毅 [32nd Koki Hirota] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  22. 第33代 林 銑十郎 [33rd Senjuro Hayashi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  23. 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.
  24. 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.
  25. 第36代 阿部 信行 [36th Nobuyuki Abe] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  26. 第37代 米内 光政 [37th Mitsumasa Yonai] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  27. 第40代 東條英機 [40th Hideki Tojo] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  28. 第41代 小磯國昭 [41st Kuniaki Koiso] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  29. 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.
  30. 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.
  31. 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.
  32. 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.
  33. 第46代 片山 哲 [46th Tetsu Katayama] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  34. 第47代 芦田 均 [47th Hitoshi Ashida] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  35. 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.
  36. 第55代 石橋 湛山 [55th Tanzan Ishibashi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  37. 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.
  38. 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.
  39. 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.
  40. 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.
  41. 第66代 三木 武夫 [66th Takeo Miki] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  42. 第67代 福田 赳夫 [67th Takeo Fukuda] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  43. 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.
  44. 第70代 鈴木 善幸 [70th Zenkō Suzuki] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  45. 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.
  46. 第74代 竹下 登 [74th Noboru Takeshita] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  47. 第75代 宇野 宗佑 [75th Sosuke Uno] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  48. 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.
  49. 第78代 宮澤 喜一 [78th Kiichi Miyazawa] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  50. 第79代 細川 護煕 [79th Morihiro Hosokawa] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  51. 第80代 羽田 孜 [80th Tsutomu Hata] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  52. 第81代 村山 富市 [81st Tomiichi Murayama] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  53. 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.
  54. 第84代 小渕 恵三 [84th Keizo Obuchi] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  55. 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.
  56. 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.
  57. 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.
  58. 第91代 福田 康夫 [91st Yasuo Fukuda] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  59. 第92代 麻生 太郎 [92nd Tarō Asō] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  60. 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.
  61. 第94代 菅 直人 [94th Naoto Kan] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  62. 第95代 野田 佳彦 [95th Yoshihiko Noda] (in Japanese). Official website of the Prime Minister of Japan. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
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