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, Itō Hirobumi, took office in 1885, until the present day.
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 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)

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.

Living former prime ministers

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