List of Prime Ministers of Japan

Yoshihiko Noda

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 Yoshihiko Noda.

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.

Color key (for political party) Military and non-partisan:       None       Taisei Yokusankai       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 Unified conservatives:       Liberal Democratic Modern era reformist conservatives, liberals, socialists:       Renewal       Japan New       Democratic       Socialist

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

Meiji period (1868–1912)

Prime Ministers under the Meiji Emperor

#			Prime Minister		Term of office			Electoral mandates	Political Party	Government
	A#	I#	Portrait	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Days
	1	1		Itō Hirobumi 伊藤 博文 Itō Hirobumi (1841–1909)	22 December 1885	30 April 1888	860	—	None	Itō I
	2	2		Kuroda Kiyotaka 黑田 清隆 Kuroda Kiyotaka (1840–1900)	30 April 1888	25 October 1889	543	—	None	Kuroda
	-	-		Sanjō Sanetomi 三條 實美 Sanjō Sanetomi (1837–1891)	25 October 1889	24 December 1889	60	—	None	Sanjō (interim)
	3	3		Yamagata Aritomo 山縣 有朋 Yamagata Aritomo (1838–1922)	24 December 1889	6 May 1891	498	1890	None	Yamagata I
	4	4		Matsukata Masayoshi 松方 正義 Matsukata Masayoshi (1835–1924)	6 May 1891	8 August 1892	460	1892	None	Matsukata I
	5	(1)		Itō Hirobumi 伊藤 博文 Itō Hirobumi (1841–1909)	8 August 1892	31 August 1896	1484	Mar. 1894 Sept. 1894	None	Itō II
During this interval, Privy Council Chairman Kuroda Kiyotaka (黑田 清隆 Kuroda Kiyotaka) was the Acting Prime Minister.
	6	(4)		Matsukata Masayoshi 松方 正義 Matsukata Masayoshi (1835–1924)	18 September 1896	12 January 1898	481	—	None	Matsukata II
	7	(1)		Itō Hirobumi 伊藤 博文 Itō Hirobumi (1841–1909)	12 January 1898	30 June 1898	169	Mar. 1898	None	Itō III
	8	5		Ōkuma Shigenobu 大隈 重信 Ōkuma Shigenobu (1838–1922)	30 June 1898	8 November 1898	131	Sept. 1898	Kenseitō (Constitutional Party)	Ōkuma I
	9	(3)		Yamagata Aritomo 山縣 有朋 Yamagata Aritomo (1838–1922)	8 November 1898	19 October 1900	710	—	None	Yamagata II
	10	(1)		Itō Hirobumi 伊藤 博文 Itō Hirobumi (1841–1909)	19 October 1900	10 May 1901	203	—	Rikken Seiyūkai (Friends of Constitutional Government)	Itō IV
During this interval, Privy Council Chairman Saionji Kinmochi (西園寺 公望 Saionji Kinmochi) was the Acting Prime Minister.
	11	6		Katsura Tarō 桂 太郎 Katsura Tarō (1848–1913)	2 June 1901	7 January 1906	1680	1902 1903 1904	None (Retired General)	Katsura I
	12	7		Saionji Kinmochi 西園寺 公望 Saionji Kinmochi (1849–1940)	7 January 1906	14 July 1908	919	1908	Rikken Seiyūkai (Friends of Constitutional Government)	Saionji I
	13	(6)		Katsura Tarō 桂 太郎 Katsura Tarō (1848–1913)	14 July 1908	30 August 1911	1142	—	None (Retired General)	Katsura II
	14	(7)		Saionji Kinmochi 西園寺 公望 Saionji Kinmochi (1849–1940)	30 August 1911	21 December 1912	479	1912	Rikken Seiyūkai (Friends of Constitutional Government)	Saionji II

Taishō period (1912–1926)

Prime Ministers under the Taishō Emperor

#			Prime Minister		Term of office			Electoral mandates	Political Party	Government
	A#	I#	Portrait	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Days
	15	(6)		Katsura Tarō 桂 太郎 Katsura Tarō (1848–1913)	21 December 1912	20 February 1913	61	—	None (Retired General)	Katsura III
	16	8		Yamamoto Gonbee 山本 權兵衞 Yamamoto Gonbee Yamamoto Gonnohyōe (1852–1933)	20 February 1913	16 April 1914	420	—	Military (Navy)	Yamamoto I
	17	(5)		Ōkuma Shigenobu 大隈 重信 Ōkuma Shigenobu (1838–1922)	16 April 1914	9 October 1916	907	1915	Rikken Dōshikai (Constitutional Association of Friends)	Ōkuma II
	18	9		Terauchi Masatake 寺內 正毅 Terauchi Masatake (1852–1919)	9 October 1916	29 September 1918	720	1917	Military (Army)	Terauchi
	19	10		Hara Takashi 原 敬 Hara Takashi (1856–1921)	29 September 1918	4 November 1921	1132	1920	Rikken Seiyūkai (Friends of Constitutional Government)	Hara
During this interval, Foreign Minister Uchida Kosai (内田 康哉 Uchida Kōsai) was the Acting Prime Minister.
	20	11		Takahashi Korekiyo 高橋 是清 Takahashi Korekiyo (1854–1936)	13 November 1921	12 June 1922	220	—	Rikken Seiyūkai (Friends of Constitutional Government)	Takahashi
	21	12		Katō Tomosaburō 加藤 友三郎 Katō Tomosaburō (1861–1923)	12 June 1922	24 August 1923	438	—	Military (Navy)	Katō T.
During this interval, Foreign Minister Uchida Kosai (内田 康哉 Uchida Kōsai) was the Acting Prime Minister.
	22	(8)		Yamamoto Gonbee 山本 權兵衞 Yamamoto Gonbee Yamamoto Gonnohyōe (1852–1933)	2 September 1923	7 January 1924	125	—	Military (Navy)	Yamamoto II
	23	13		Kiyoura Keigo 清浦 奎吾 Kiyoura Keigo (1850–1942)	7 January 1924	11 June 1924	156	1924	None	Kiyoura
	24	14		Katō Takaaki 加藤 高明 Katō Takaaki (1860–1926)	11 June 1924	2 August 1925	596	—	Kenseikai (Constitutional Party)	Katō
					2 August 1925	28 January 1926		—	Kenseikai (Constitutional Party)
During this interval, Interior Minister Wakatsuki Reijirō (若槻 禮次郎 Wakatsuki Reijirō) was the Acting Prime Minister.
	25	15		Wakatsuki Reijirō 若槻 禮次郎 Wakatsuki Reijirō (1866–1949)	30 January 1926	20 April 1927	445	—	Kenseikai (Constitutional Party)	Wakatsuki I

Shōwa period (1926–1947)

Prime Ministers under the Shōwa Emperor

#			Prime Minister		Term of office			Electoral mandates		Political Party	Government
	A#	I#	Portrait	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Days
	26	16		Tanaka Giichi 田中 義一 Tanaka Giichi (1864–1929)	20 April 1927	2 July 1929	804	1928		Rikken Seiyūkai (Friends of Constitutional Government)	Tanaka G.
	27	17		Osachi Hamaguchi 濱口 雄幸 Hamaguchi Osachi (1870–1931)	2 July 1929	14 April 1931	651	1930		Rikken Minseitō (Constitutional Democratic Party)	Hamaguchi
	28	(15)		Wakatsuki Reijirō 若槻 禮次郎 Wakatsuki Reijirō (1866–1949)	14 April 1931	13 December 1931	243	—		Rikken Minseitō (Constitutional Democratic Party)	Wakatsuki II
	29	18		Inukai Tsuyoshi 犬養 毅 Inukai Tsuyoshi (1855–1932)	13 December 1931	15 May 1932	154	1932		Rikken Seiyūkai (Friends of Constitutional Government)	Inukai
During this interval, Finance Minister Takahashi Korekiyo (高橋 是清 Takahashi Korekiyo) was the Acting Prime Minister.
	30	19		Saitō Makoto 齋藤 實 Saitō Makoto (1858–1936)	26 May 1932	8 July 1934	773	—		Military (Navy)	Saitō
	31	20		Keisuke Okada 岡田 啓介 Okada Keisuke (1868–1952)	8 July 1934	9 March 1936	610	1936		Military (Navy)	Okada
	32	21		Kōki Hirota 廣田 弘毅 Hirota Kōki (1878–1948)	9 March 1936	2 February 1937	330	—		None	Hirota
	33	22		Senjūrō Hayashi 林 銑十郎 Hayashi Senjūrō (1876–1943)	2 February 1937	4 June 1937	122	1937		Military (Army)	Hayashi
	34	23		Fumimaro Konoe 近衞 文麿 Konoe Fumimaro (1891–1945)	4 June 1937	5 January 1939	580	—		None	Konoe I
	35	24		Hiranuma Kiichirō 平沼 騏一郎 Hiranuma Kiichirō (1867–1952)	5 January 1939	30 August 1939	237	—		None	Hiranuma
	36	25		Nobuyuki Abe 阿部 信行 Abe Nobuyuki (1875–1953)	30 August 1939	16 January 1940	139	—		Military (Army)	Abe
	37	26		Mitsumasa Yonai 米内 光政 Yonai Mitsumasa (1880–1948)	16 January 1940	22 July 1940	188	—		Military (Navy)	Yonai
	38	(23)		Fumimaro Konoe 近衞 文麿 Konoe Fumimaro (1891–1945)	22 July 1940	18 July 1941	453	—		Taisei Yokusankai (Imperial Rule Assistance Association)	Konoe II
	39				18 July 1941	18 October 1941		—			Konoe III
	40	27		Hideki Tōjō 東條 英機 Tōjō Hideki (1884–1948)	18 October 1941	22 July 1944	1008	1942		Taisei Yokusankai (Imperial Rule Assistance Association)	Tōjō
	41	28		Kuniaki Koiso 小磯 國昭 Koiso Kuniaki (1880–1950)	22 July 1944	7 April 1945	259	—		Military (Army)	Koiso
	42	29		Kantarō Suzuki 鈴木 貫太郎 Suzuki Kantarō (1868–1948)	7 April 1945	17 August 1945	132	—		Taisei Yokusankai (Imperial Rule Assistance Association)	Suzuki K.
	43	30		Higashikuni Naruhiko 東久邇宮 稔彦王 Higashikuni no miya Naruhiko ō (1887–1990)	17 August 1945	9 October 1945	53	—		Imperial Family	Higashikuni
	44	31		Kijūrō Shidehara 幣原 喜重郎 Shidehara Kijūrō (1872–1951)	9 October 1945	22 May 1946	225	—		None	Shidehara
	45	32		Shigeru Yoshida 吉田 茂 Yoshida Shigeru (1878–1967)	22 May 1946	24 May 1947	367	1946		Nihon Jiyūtō (Japan Liberal Party)	Yoshida I

Prime Ministers of the State of Japan (1947–Present)

Shōwa period (1947–1989)

Prime Ministers under the Shōwa Emperor

#			Prime Minister		Term of office			Electoral mandates		Political Party	Government
	A#	I#	Portrait	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Days	Rep.	Coun.
	46	33		Tetsu Katayama 片山 哲 Katayama Tetsu (1887–1978)	24 May 1947	10 March 1948	291	1947	1947	Shakaitō (Socialist Party)	Katayama
	47	34		Hitoshi Ashida 芦田 均 Ashida Hitoshi (1887–1959)	10 March 1948	15 October 1948	219	—	—	Minshutō (Democratic Party)	Ashida
	48	(32)		Shigeru Yoshida 吉田 茂 Yoshida Shigeru (1878–1967)	15 October 1948	16 February 1949	2247	—	—	Minshu Jiyūtō (Democratic Liberal Party)	Yoshida II
	49				16 February 1949	30 October 1952		1949	1950	Jiyūtō (Liberal Party)	Yoshida III (Reshuffle 1 · 2 · 3)
	50				30 October 1952	21 May 1953		1952	—		Yoshida IV
	51				21 May 1953	10 December 1954		1953	1953		Yoshida V
	52	35		Ichirō Hatoyama 鳩山 一郎 Hatoyama Ichirō	10 December 1954	19 March 1955	744	—	—	Nihon Minshutō (Japan Democratic Party)	Hatoyama I. I
	53				19 March 1955	22 November 1955		—	—		Hatoyama I. II
	54			(1883–1959)	22 November 1955	23 December 1956		1955	—	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Hatoyama I. III
	55	36		Tanzan Ishibashi 石橋 湛山 Ishibashi Tanzan (1884–1973)	23 December 1956	25 February 1957	64	—	1956	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Ishibashi
	56	37		Nobusuke Kishi 岸 信介 Kishi Nobusuke (1896–1987)	25 February 1957	12 June 1958	1240	—	—	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Kishi I (Reshuffle)
	57				12 June 1958	19 July 1960		1958	1959		Kishi II (Reshuffle)
	58	38		Hayato Ikeda 池田 勇人 Ikeda Hayato (1899–1965)	19 July 1960	8 December 1960	1574	—	—	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Ikeda I
	59				8 December 1960	9 December 1963		1960	1962		Ikeda II (Reshuffle 1 · 2 · 3)
	60				9 December 1963	9 November 1964		1963	—		Ikeda III (Reshuffle)
	61	39		Eisaku Satō 佐藤 榮作 Satō Eisaku (1901–1975)	9 November 1964	17 February 1967	2797	—	1965	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Satō I (Reshuffle 1 · 2 · 3)
	62				17 February 1967	14 January 1970		1967	1968		Satō II (Reshuffle 1 · 2)
	63				14 January 1970	7 July 1972		1969	1971		Satō III (Reshuffle)
	64	40		Kakuei Tanaka 田中 角榮 Tanaka Kakuei (1918–1993)	7 July 1972	22 December 1972	885	—	—	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Tanaka K. I
	65				22 December 1972	9 December 1974		1972	—		Tanaka K. II (Reshuffle 1 · 2)
	66	41		Miki Takeo 三木 武夫 Miki Takeo (1907–1988)	9 December 1974	24 December 1976	746	—	1974	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Miki (Reshuffle)
	67	42		Takeo Fukuda 福田 赳夫 Fukuda Takeo (1905–1995)	24 December 1976	7 December 1978	713	1976	1977	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Fukuda T. (Reshuffle)
	68	43		Masayoshi Ōhira 大平 正芳 Ōhira Masayoshi (1910–1980)	7 December 1978	9 November 1979	553	—	—	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Ōhira I
	69				9 November 1979	12 June 1980		1979	—		Ōhira II
During this interval, Chief Cabinet Secretary Masayoshi Ito (伊東 正義 Itō Masayoshi) was the Acting Prime Minister.
	70	44		Zenko Suzuki 鈴木 善幸 Suzuki Zenkō (1911–2004)	17 July 1980	27 November 1982	863	1980	1980	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Suzuki Z. (Reshuffle)
	71	45		Yasuhiro Nakasone 中曾根 康弘 Nakasone Yasuhiro (1918– )	27 November 1982	27 December 1983	1805	—	—	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Nakasone I
	72				27 December 1983	22 July 1986		1983	1983		Nakasone II (Reshuffle 1 · 2)
	73				22 July 1986	6 November 1987		1986	1986		Nakasone III
	74	46		Noboru Takeshita 竹下 登 Takeshita Noboru (1924–2000)	6 November 1987	3 June 1989	575	—	—	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Takeshita (Reshuffle)

Heisei period (1989–Present)

Prime Ministers under Emperor Akihito

#			Prime Minister		Term of office			Electoral mandates		Political Party	Government
	A#	I#	Portrait	Name	Took Office	Left Office	Days	Rep.	Coun.
	75	47		Sōsuke Uno 宇野 宗佑 Uno Sōsuke (1922–1998)	3 June 1989	10 August 1989	68	—	1989	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Uno
	76	48		Toshiki Kaifu 海部 俊樹 Kaifu Toshiki (1931– )	10 August 1989	28 February 1990	817	—	—	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Kaifu I
	77				28 February 1990	5 November 1991		1990	—		Kaifu II (Reshuffle)
	78	49		Kiichi Miyazawa 宮澤 喜一 Miyazawa Kiichi (1919–2007)	5 November 1991	9 August 1993	643	—	1992	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Kiichi (Reshuffle)
	79	50		Morihiro Hosokawa 細川 護熙 Hosokawa Morihiro (1938– )	9 August 1993	28 April 1994	262	1993	—	Nihon Shintō (Japan New Party)	Hosokawa
	80	51		Tsutomu Hata 羽田 孜 Hata Tsutomu (1935– )	28 April 1994	30 June 1994	63	—	—	Shinseitō (Renewal Party)	Hata
	81	52		Tomiichi Murayama 村山 富市 Murayama Tomiichi (1924– )	30 June 1994	11 January 1996	560	—	1995	Shakaitō (Socialist Party)	Murayama (Reshuffle)
	82	53		Ryutaro Hashimoto 橋本 龍太郎 Hashimoto Ryūtarō (1937–2006)	11 January 1996	7 November 1996	931	—	—	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Hashimoto I
	83				7 November 1996	30 July 1998		1996	—		Hashimoto II (Reshuffle)
	84	54		Keizō Obuchi 小渕 恵三 Obuchi Keizō (1937–2000)	30 July 1998	5 April 2000	615	—	1998	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Obuchi (Reshuffle 1 · 2)
	85	55		Yoshirō Mori 森 喜朗 Mori Yoshirō (1937– )	5 April 2000	4 July 2000	386	—	—	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Mori I
	86				4 July 2000	26 April 2001		2000	—		Mori II (Reshuffle 1 · 2)
	87	56		Junichiro Koizumi 小泉 純一郎 Koizumi Jun'ichirō (1942– )	26 April 2001	19 November 2003	1979	—	2001	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Koizumi I (Reshuffle 1 · 2)
	88				19 November 2003	21 September 2005		2003	2004		Koizumi II (Reshuffle)
	89				21 September 2005	26 September 2006		2005	—		Koizumi III (Reshuffle)
	90	57		Shinzō Abe 安倍 晋三 Abe Shinzō (1954– )	26 September 2006	26 September 2007	365	—	2007	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Abe (Reshuffle)
	91	58		Yasuo Fukuda 福田 康夫 Fukuda Yasuo (1936– )	26 September 2007	24 September 2008	364	—	—	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Fukuda Y. (Reshuffle)
	92	59		Taro Aso 麻生 太郎 Asō Tarō (1940– )	24 September 2008	16 September 2009	357	—	—	Jimintō (Liberal Democratic Party)	Asō
	93	60		Yukio Hatoyama 鳩山 由紀夫 Hatoyama Yukio (1947– )	16 September 2009	8 June 2010	265	2009	—	Minshutō (Democratic Party)	Hatoyama Y.
	94	61		Naoto Kan 菅 直人 Kan Naoto (1946– )	8 June 2010	2 September 2011	451	—	2010	Minshutō (Democratic Party)	Kan (Reshuffle 1 · 2)
	95	62		Yoshihiko Noda 野田 佳彦 Noda Yoshihiko (1957– )	2 September 2011	Incumbent	152	—	—	Minshutō (Democratic Party)	Noda (Reshuffle)

See also

• List of Japanese Prime Ministers by longevity

External links

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