List of prime ministers of Japan

The prime minister of Japan is the country's head of government and the leader of the Cabinet. This is a list of prime ministers of Japan, from when the first Japanese prime minister (in the modern sense), Itō Hirobumi, took office in 1885, until the present day.

The east facade of the Kantei

32 prime ministers under the Meiji Constitution had a mandate from the Emperor. The "electoral mandates" shown are for the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Imperial Diet, which was not constitutionally guaranteed to have any influence on the appointment of the prime minister.

The prime minister under the Constitution of Japan is designated from among the members of the National Diet, and appointed by the Emperor after being nominated by the National Diet.

The premiership of Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, who was prime minister for fifty-four days in 1945, was the shortest in Japanese history. Shinzo Abe served the longest, with eight years over two non-consecutive periods.

The current prime minister is Sanae Takaichi, who assumed the office on 21 October 2025.

From 1871 to 1885

The office of daijō-daijin (太政大臣, chancellor of the realm) was the equivalent of what would become the office of prime minister. It was an ancient role which had been discontinued in the 18th century and was briefly revived during the Meiji era.

Daijō-daijin (chancellor of the realm)

List of daijō-daijin (chancellor of the realm) (1871–1885)
Portrait Daijō-daijin
Office
(Lifespan)
Term of office Mandate Party Government Emperor
Reign
Start End Duration
Prince
Sanjō Sanetomi
三條 實美
(1837–1891)
13 September
1871
22 December
1885
14 years, 101 days None Meiji
r. 1867–1912
(Meiji era)

The office of Daijō-daijin was abolished in December 1885 with the appointment of Itō Hirobumi in the new position of prime minister of Japan (内閣総理大臣, Naikaku Sōri-Daijin).

Since 1885

Prime ministers



    •   Nonpartisan (9)
    •   Military (Army) (6)
    •   Military (Navy) (5)
    •   Kenseitō (1)
    •   Rikken Seiyūkai (6)
    •   Rikken Dōshikai (1)
    •   Kenseikai (2)
    •   Rikken Minseitō (2)
    •   Taisei Yokusankai (4)
    •   Imperial Family (1)
    •   Liberal (1945–1948) (1)
    •   Socialist (2)
    •   Democratic (1947–1950) (1)
    •   Democratic Liberal (1)
    •   Liberal (1950–1955) (1)
    •   Democratic (1954–1955) (1)
    •   Liberal Democratic (26)
    •   New (1)
    •   Renewal (1)
    •   Democratic (1998–2016) (3)
List of prime ministers of Japan since 1885
Portrait Prime minister
Office
(Lifespan)
Term of office Mandate Party Government Emperor
Reign
Ref
Start End Duration
Count
Itō Hirobumi
伊藤󠄃 博文
(1841–1909)
22 December
1885
30 April
1888
2 years, 131 days Independent
(Meiji oligarchy)
1. Itō I Meiji
r. 1867–1912
(Meiji era)
Count
Kuroda Kiyotaka
黑田 清隆
(1840–1900)
30 April
1888
25 October
1889
1 year, 179 days Military
(Army)
2. Kuroda
Prince
Sanjō Sanetomi
三條 實美
(1837–1891)
Acting Prime Minister
25 October
1889
24 December
1889
61 days Independent Sanjō caretaker
Count
Yamagata Aritomo
山縣 有朋
(1838–1922)
24 December
1889
6 May
1891
1 year, 134 days Military
(Army)
3. Yamagata I
1890
Count
Matsukata Masayoshi
松方 正義
(1835–1924)
6 May
1891
8 August
1892
1 year, 95 days Independent
(Meiji oligarchy)
4. Matsukata I
1892
Marquess
Itō Hirobumi
伊藤󠄃 博文
(1841–1909)
8 August
1892
31 August
1896
4 years, 24 days Independent
(Meiji oligarchy)
5. Itō II
Mar.1894
Sep.1894
Count
Kuroda Kiyotaka
黑田 清隆
(1840–1900)
Acting Prime Minister
31 August
1896
18 September
1896
19 days Military
(Army)
Count
Matsukata Masayoshi
松方 正義
(1835–1924)
18 September
1896
12 January
1898
1 year, 117 days Independent
(Meiji oligarchy)
6. Matsukata II
Marquess
Itō Hirobumi
伊藤󠄃 博文
(1841–1909)
12 January
1898
30 June
1898
170 days Independent
(Meiji oligarchy)
7. Itō III
Mar.1898
Count
Ōkuma Shigenobu
大隈 重信
(1838–1922)
30 June
1898
8 November
1898
132 days Kenseitō 8. Ōkuma I
Aug.1898
Count
Yamagata Aritomo
山縣 有朋
(1838–1922)
8 November
1898
19 October
1900
1 year, 346 days Military
(Army)
9. Yamagata II
Marquess
Itō Hirobumi
伊藤󠄃 博文
(1841–1909)
19 October
1900
10 May
1901
204 days Rikken Seiyūkai 10. Itō IV
Marquess
Saionji Kinmochi
西園寺 公望
(1849–1940)
Acting Prime Minister
27 October
1900
12 December
1900
47 days Rikken Seiyūkai
10 May
1901
2 June
1901
24 days
Count
Katsura Tarō
桂 太郞
(1848–1913)
2 June
1901
7 January
1906
4 years, 220 days Military
(Army)
11. Katsura I
1902
1903
1904
Marquess
Saionji Kinmochi
西園寺 公望
(1849–1940)
7 January
1906
14 July
1908
2 years, 190 days Rikken Seiyūkai 12. Saionji I
1908
Prince
Katsura Tarō
桂 太郞
(1848–1913)
14 July
1908
30 August
1911
3 years, 48 days Military
(Army)
13. Katsura II
Marquess
Saionji Kinmochi
西園寺 公望
(1849–1940)
30 August
1911
21 December
1912
1 year, 114 days Rikken Seiyūkai 14. Saionji II
1912
Taishō
r. 1912–1926
(Taishō era)
Prince
Katsura Tarō
桂 太郞
(1848–1913)
21 December
1912
20 February
1913
62 days Independent 15. Katsura III
Count
Yamamoto Gonnohyōe
山本 權兵衛
(1852–1933)
20 February
1913
16 April
1914
1 year, 56 days Military
(Navy)
16. Yamamoto I
Marquess
Ōkuma Shigenobu
大隈 重信
(1838–1922)
16 April
1914
9 October
1916
2 years, 177 days Rikken Dōshikai 17. Ōkuma II
1915
Count
Terauchi Masatake
寺內 正毅
(1852–1919)
9 October
1916
29 September
1918
1 year, 356 days Military
(Army)
18. Terauchi
1917
Hara Takashi
原 敬
Rep for Morioka
(1856–1921)
29 September
1918
4 November
1921
3 years, 37 days Rikken Seiyūkai 19. Hara
1920
Count
Uchida Kōsai
內田 康哉
(1865–1936)
Acting Prime Minister
4 November
1921
13 November
1921
10 days Independent
Viscount
Takahashi Korekiyo
高橋 是清
(1854–1936)
13 November
1921
12 June
1922
212 days Rikken Seiyūkai 20. Takahashi
Baron
Katō Tomosaburō
加藤 友三郞
(1861–1923)
12 June
1922
24 August
1923
1 year, 74 days Military
(Navy)
21. Katō To.
Count
Uchida Kōsai
內田 康哉
(1865–1936)
Acting Prime Minister
24 August
1923
2 September
1923
10 days Independent
Count
Yamamoto Gonnohyōe
山本 權兵衛
(1852–1933)
2 September
1923
7 January
1924
128 days Military
(Navy)
22. Yamamoto II
Viscount
Kiyoura Keigo
清浦 奎吾
(1850–1942)
7 January
1924
11 June
1924
157 days Independent 23. Kiyoura
Viscount
Katō Takaaki
加藤 高明
(1860–1926)
11 June
1924
28 January
1926
1 year, 232 days 1924 Kenseikai 24. Katō Ta.
Wakatsuki Reijirō
若槻 禮次郞
(1866–1949)
28 January
1926
30 January
1926
3 days Kenseikai
30 January
1926
20 April
1927
1 year, 81 days 25. Wakatsuki I
Shōwa
r. 1926–1989
(Shōwa era)
Baron
Tanaka Giichi
田中 義一
(1864–1929)
20 April
1927
2 July
1929
2 years, 74 days Rikken Seiyūkai 26. Tanaka G.
1928
Hamaguchi Osachi
濱口 雄幸
Rep for Kochi 2nd
(1870–1931)
2 July
1929
14 April
1931
1 year, 287 days Rikken Minseitō 27. Hamaguchi
1930
Baron
Kijūrō Shidehara
幣原 喜重郞
(1872–1951)
Acting Prime Minister
14 November
1930
9 March
1931
116 days Independent
Baron
Wakatsuki Reijirō
若槻 禮次郞
(1866–1949)
14 April
1931
13 December
1931
244 days Rikken Minseitō 28. Wakatsuki II
Inukai Tsuyoshi
犬養 毅
Rep for Okayama 2nd
(1855–1932)
13 December
1931
15 May
1932
155 days Rikken Seiyūkai 29. Inukai
1932
Viscount
Takahashi Korekiyo
高橋 是清
(1854–1936)
15 May
1932
26 May
1932
12 days Rikken Seiyūkai
Viscount
Saitō Makoto
齋藤 實
(1858–1936)
26 May
1932
8 July
1934
2 years, 44 days Military
(Navy)
30. Saitō
Keisuke Okada
岡田 啓介
(1868–1952)
8 July
1934
9 March
1936
1 year, 246 days Military
(Navy)
31. Okada
1936
Fumio Gotō
後藤 文夫
(1884–1980)
Acting Prime Minister
26 February
1936
29 February
1936
4 days Independent
Kōki Hirota
廣田 弘毅
(1878–1948)
9 March
1936
2 February
1937
331 days Independent 32. Hirota
Senjūrō Hayashi
林 銑十郞
(1876–1943)
2 February
1937
4 June
1937
123 days Military
(Army)
33. Hayashi
1937
Prince
Fumimaro Konoe
近衞 文麿󠄁
(1891–1945)
4 June
1937
5 January
1939
1 year, 216 days Independent 34. Konoe I
Baron
Kiichirō Hiranuma
平󠄁沼 騏一郞
(1867–1952)
5 January
1939
30 August
1939
238 days Independent 35. Hiranuma
Nobuyuki Abe
阿部 信行
(1875–1953)
30 August
1939
16 January
1940
140 days Military
(Army)
36. N. Abe
Mitsumasa Yonai
米內 光政
(1880–1948)
16 January
1940
22 July
1940
189 days Military
(Navy)
37. Yonai
Prince
Fumimaro Konoe
近衞 文麿󠄁
(1891–1945)
22 July
1940
18 October
1941
1 year, 89 days Independent 38. Konoe II
Taisei Yokusankai
39. Konoe III
Hideki Tojo
東條 英機
(1884–1948)
18 October
1941
22 July
1944
2 years, 279 days Taisei Yokusankai 40. Tōjō
1942
Kuniaki Koiso
小磯 國昭
(1880–1950)
22 July
1944
7 April
1945
260 days Taisei Yokusankai 41. Koiso
Baron
Kantarō Suzuki
鈴木 貫太郞
(1868–1948)
7 April
1945
17 August
1945
133 days Taisei Yokusankai 42. K. Suzuki
Independent
Prince
Naruhiko Higashikuni
東久邇宮稔彦王
(1887–1990)
17 August
1945
9 October
1945
54 days Imperial Family 43. Higashikuni
Baron
Kijūrō Shidehara
幣原 喜重郞
(1872–1951)
9 October
1945
22 May
1946
226 days Independent 44. Shidehara
Shigeru Yoshida
吉田 茂
(1878–1967)
22 May
1946
24 May
1947
1 year, 3 days 1946 Liberal 45. Yoshida I
Tetsu Katayama
片山 哲
Rep for Kanagawa 3rd
(1887–1978)
24 May
1947
10 March
1948
292 days 1947 Socialist 46. Katayama
Hitoshi Ashida
蘆田 均
Rep for Kyōto 2nd
(1887–1959)
10 March
1948
15 October
1948
220 days Democratic 47. Ashida
Shigeru Yoshida
吉田 茂
Rep for Kōchi at-large
(1878–1967)
15 October
1948
10 December
1954
6 years, 57 days Democratic Liberal 48. Yoshida II
1949 49. Yoshida III
Liberal
1952 50. Yoshida IV
1953 51. Yoshida V
Ichirō Hatoyama
鳩山 一郞
Rep for Tokyo 1st
(1883–1959)
10 December
1954
23 December
1956
2 years, 14 days Japan Democratic 52. Hatoyama I. I
1955 53. Hatoyama I. II
Liberal Democratic 54. Hatoyama I. III
Tanzan Ishibashi
石橋 湛山
Rep for Shizuoka 2nd
(1884–1973)
23 December
1956
25 February
1957
65 days Liberal Democratic
(New liberal faction)
55. Ishibashi
Nobusuke Kishi
岸 信介
Rep for Yamaguchi 2nd
(1896–1987)
25 February
1957
19 July
1960
3 years, 146 days Liberal Democratic
(Tokakai faction)
56. Kishi I
1958 57. Kishi II
Hayato Ikeda
池田 勇人
Rep for Hiroshima 2nd
(1899–1965)
19 July
1960
9 November
1964
4 years, 114 days Liberal Democratic
(Kōchikai faction)
58. Ikeda I
1960 59. Ikeda II
1963 60. Ikeda III
Eisaku Satō
佐藤 榮作
Rep for Yamaguchi 2nd
(1901–1975)
9 November
1964
7 July
1972
7 years, 242 days Liberal Democratic
(Shuzankai faction)
61. Satō I
1967 62. Satō II
1969 63. Satō III
Kakuei Tanaka
田中 角榮
Rep for Niigata 3rd
(1918–1993)
7 July
1972
9 December
1974
2 years, 156 days Liberal Democratic
(Mokuyō Club)
64. Tanaka K. I
1972 65. Tanaka K. II
Takeo Miki
三木 武夫
Rep for Tokushima at-large
(1907–1988)
9 December
1974
24 December
1976
2 years, 16 days Liberal Democratic
(Banchō Seisaku Kenkyūjo faction)
66. Miki
Takeo Fukuda
福︀田 赳夫
Rep for Gunma 3rd
(1905–1995)
24 December
1976
7 December
1978
1 year, 349 days 1976 Liberal Democratic
(Pro-Reform bureaucrats faction)
67. Fukuda T.
Masayoshi Ōhira
大平󠄁 正芳
Rep for Kagawa 2nd
(1910–1980)
7 December
1978
12 June
1980
1 year, 189 days Liberal Democratic
(Kōchikai faction)
68. Ōhira I
1979 69. Ōhira II
Masayoshi Ito
伊東 正義
Rep for Fukushima 2nd
(1913–1994)
Acting Prime Minister
12 June
1980
17 July
1980
36 days Liberal Democratic
(Kōchikai faction)
Zenkō Suzuki
鈴木 善幸
Rep for Iwate 1st
(1911–2004)
17 July
1980
27 November
1982
2 years, 134 days 1980 Liberal Democratic
(Kōchikai faction)
70. Suzuki Z.
Yasuhiro Nakasone
中曾根 康弘
Rep for Gunma 3rd
(1918–2019)
27 November
1982
6 November
1987
4 years, 345 days Liberal Democratic
(Seisaku Kagaku Kenkyūjo faction)
71. Nakasone I
1983 72. Nakasone II
1986 73. Nakasone III
Noboru Takeshita
竹下 登
Rep for Shimane at-large
(1924–2000)
6 November
1987
3 June
1989
1 year, 210 days Liberal Democratic
(Heisei Kenkyūkai faction)
74. Takeshita
Akihito
(Heisei)
r. 1989–2019
(Heisei era)
Sōsuke Uno
宇野 宗佑
Rep for Shiga at-large
(1922–1998)
3 June
1989
10 August
1989
69 days Liberal Democratic
(Seisaku Kagaku Kenkyūjo faction)
75. Uno
Toshiki Kaifu
海︀部 俊樹
Rep for Aichi 3rd
(1931–2022)
10 August
1989
5 November
1991
2 years, 88 days Liberal Democratic
(Banchō Seisaku Kenkyūjo faction)
76. Kaifu I
1990 77. Kaifu II
Kiichi Miyazawa
宮澤 喜一
Rep for Hiroshima 3rd
(1919–2007)
5 November
1991
9 August
1993
1 year, 278 days Liberal Democratic
(Kōchikai faction)
78. Miyazawa
Morihiro Hosokawa
細川 護熙
Rep for Kumamoto 1st
(born 1938)
9 August
1993
28 April
1994
263 days 1993 New 79. Hosokawa
Tsutomu Hata
羽︀田 孜
Rep for Nagano 2nd
(1935–2017)
28 April
1994
30 June
1994
64 days Renewal 80. Hata
Tomiichi Murayama
村山 富市
Rep for Ōita 1st
(1924–2025)
30 June
1994
11 January
1996
1 year, 196 days Socialist
(Seiken Kõsõ Kenkyūkai faction)
81. Murayama
Ryutaro Hashimoto
橋本 龍太郞
Rep for Okayama 4th
(1937–2006)
11 January
1996
30 July
1998
2 years, 201 days Liberal Democratic
(Heisei Kenkyūkai faction)
82. Hashimoto I
1996 83. Hashimoto II
Keizō Obuchi
小渕 惠三
Rep for Gunma 5th
(1937–2000)
30 July
1998
3 April
2000
1 year, 251 days Liberal Democratic
(Heisei Kenkyūkai faction)
84. Obuchi
Mikio Aoki
靑木 幹雄
Cou for Shimane at-large
(1934–2023)
Acting Prime Minister
3 April
2000
5 April
2000
3 days Liberal Democratic
(Heisei Kenkyūkai faction)
Yoshirō Mori
森 喜朗
Rep for Ishikawa 2nd
(born 1937)
5 April
2000
26 April
2001
1 year, 22 days Liberal Democratic
(Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai faction)
85. Mori I
2000 86. Mori II
Junichiro Koizumi
小泉 純一郞
Rep for Kanagawa 11th
(born 1942)
26 April
2001
26 September
2006
5 years, 154 days Liberal Democratic
(Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai faction)
87. Koizumi I
2003 88. Koizumi II
2005 89. Koizumi III
Shinzo Abe
安倍 晋三
Rep for Yamaguchi 4th
(1954–2022)
26 September
2006
26 September
2007
1 year, 1 day Liberal Democratic
(Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai faction)
90. Abe S. I
Yasuo Fukuda
福︀田 康夫
Rep for Gunma 4th
(born 1936)
26 September
2007
24 September
2008
365 days Liberal Democratic 91. Fukuda Y.
Tarō Asō
麻󠄁生 太郞
Rep for Fukuoka 8th
(born 1940)
24 September
2008
16 September
2009
358 days Liberal Democratic
(Kōchikai faction)
92. Asō
Yukio Hatoyama
鳩山 由紀夫
Rep for Hokkaido 9th
(born 1947)
16 September
2009
8 June
2010
266 days 2009 Democratic
(Seiken kōyaku wo Jitsugen suru kai)
93. Hatoyama Y.
Naoto Kan
菅 直人
Rep for Tokyo 18th
(born 1946)
8 June
2010
2 September
2011
1 year, 87 days Democratic
(Kuni no katachi kenkyūkai)
94. Kan
Yoshihiko Noda
野田 佳彦
Rep for Chiba 4th
(born 1957)
2 September
2011
26 December
2012
1 year, 116 days Democratic
(Ryōun-kai)
95. Noda
Shinzo Abe
安倍 晋三
Rep for Yamaguchi 4th
(1954–2022)
26 December
2012
16 September
2020
7 years, 266 days 2012 Liberal Democratic
(Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai faction)
96. Abe S. II
2014 97. Abe S. III
2017 98. Abe S. IV
Naruhito
(Reiwa)
r. 2019–present
(Reiwa era)
Yoshihide Suga
菅 義偉󠄃
Rep for Kanagawa 2nd
(born 1948)
16 September
2020
4 October
2021
1 year, 19 days Liberal Democratic 99. Suga
Fumio Kishida
岸田 文󠄁雄
Rep for Hiroshima 1st
(born 1957)
4 October
2021
1 October
2024
2 years, 364 days Liberal Democratic
(Kōchikai faction)
100. Kishida I
2021 101. Kishida II
Shigeru Ishiba
石破 茂
Rep for Tottori 1st
(born 1957)
1 October
2024
21 October
2025
1 year, 20 days Liberal Democratic
(Suigetsukai faction)
102. Ishiba I
2024 103. Ishiba II
Sanae Takaichi
高市 早苗
Rep for Nara 2nd
(born 1961)
21 October
2025
Incumbent 56 days Liberal Democratic 104. Takaichi

Living former prime ministers

As of 15 December 2025, there are eleven living former Prime Ministers of Japan. The most recent death of a former prime minister was that of Tomiichi Murayama (1994–1996) on 17 October 2025. He died at age 101, having become a centenarian on 3 March 2024.

Timeline

Relations between Japanese prime ministers

Relations Japanese prime ministers
brothers 1. Nobusuke Kishi (older) and Eisaku Satō (younger)
grandfathers and grandsons 2. Fumimaro Konoe and Morihiro Hosokawa
3. Nobusuke Kishi and Shinzo Abe
4. Shigeru Yoshida and Tarō Asō
5. Ichirō Hatoyama and Yukio Hatoyama
great-uncle and great-nephew 6. Eisaku Satō and Shinzo Abe
father and son 7. Takeo Fukuda and Yasuo Fukuda
father-in-law and son-in-law 8. Zenkō Suzuki and Tarō Asō

See also

wikipedia, wiki, encyclopedia, book, library, article, read, free download, Information about List of prime ministers of Japan, What is List of prime ministers of Japan? What does List of prime ministers of Japan mean?