Cabinet of Japan
The Cabinet of Japan is the chief executive body of the government of Japan. It consists of the prime minister, who is appointed by the Emperor after being nominated by the National Diet, in addition to up to seventeen other members, called ministers of state. The current cabinet, the Takaichi Cabinet, was formed on 21 October 2025 and is led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The country has had a Liberal Democratic minority government since 2025.
The prime minister is nominated by the National Diet, while the remaining ministers are appointed and dismissed by the prime minister. The Cabinet is collectively responsible to the National Diet and must resign if a motion of no confidence is adopted by the National Diet.
Appointment
Under the Constitution of Japan, Cabinet ministers are appointed after the selection of the prime minister. A majority of the Cabinet, including the prime minister, must be members of the National Diet, and all members must be civilians. Under the Cabinet Law, the number of Cabinet ministers must be fourteen or less, but this may be increased to seventeen if a special need arises. If the Cabinet collectively resigns, it continues to exercise its functions until the appointment of a new prime minister. While they are in office, legal action may not be taken against Cabinet ministers without the consent of the prime minister. The Cabinet must resign en masse in the following circumstances:- When a motion of no confidence is adopted, or a vote of confidence defeated, by the House of Representatives, unless there is a dissolution of the house within ten days.
- Upon the first convocation of the National Diet after a general election to the House of Representatives.
- When the position of prime minister becomes vacant, or the prime minister declares his intention to resign.
Powers
In practice, much of the Cabinet's authority is exercised by the prime minister. Under the Constitution, the prime minister exercises "control and supervision" over the executive branch, and no law or Cabinet order can take effect without the prime minister's countersignature. While Cabinet Ministers in most other parliamentary democracies theoretically have some freedom of action, the Japanese Cabinet is effectively an extension of the prime minister's authority.
According to Article 75 of the Constitution, Ministers of State are not subject to legal action without the consent of the prime minister during their tenure of office.
Powers exercised via the Emperor
- Promulgation of amendment of the constitution, laws, cabinet orders, and treaties
- Convocation of the National Diet
- Dissolution of the House of Representatives
- Proclamation of general elections to the National Diet
- Receiving of foreign ambassadors and ministers
- Conferring of honours
Explicit powers
- Execution of the law
- Conduct of foreign affairs
- Conclusion of treaties.
- Administration of the civil service
- Drafting of the budget
- Adoption of cabinet orders
- Granting of general amnesty, special amnesty, commutation of punishment, reprieve, and restoration of rights
- Signing of laws or cabinet orders by the relevant Minister of State and countersigned by the Prime Minister
- Appointment of the associate justices of the Supreme Court of Japan
- Appointment of vice-ministers
List of cabinets of Japan
Current Cabinet
The current cabinet, led by the newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, was formed on 21 October 2025.the makeup of the most recent Cabinet is as follows:
General and cited references
- . The Japan Times. Accessed 13 October 2012.
- prime minister of Japan and His Cabinet. Retrieved 28 Oct. 2003
- Hunter, Janet. Concise Dictionary of Modern Japanese History. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, pp. 266–324, Appendix 5: Japanese Cabinets Since the Introduction of the Cabinet System in 1885 .