Ministries of Japan


The Ministries of Japan or Government Agencies of Japan are the most influential part of the executive branch of the Government of Japan. Each ministry is headed by a Minister of State appointed by the Prime Minister. In postwar politics, the posts of ministers have been given to senior legislators, mostly of the LDP. However, few ministers serve for more than one or two years to develop the necessary grasp of the organisation to become really influential. Thus, most of the power lies within the ministries, with the senior bureaucrats.
The current 15 Cabinet-level ministries of the Government of Japan include:
The Board of Audit of Japan is responsible for ensuring the adequacy of the Government's financial management by continuously auditing and supervising government activities, and verifying expenditures and revenues of the state.

List of ministries

Ministries in the Empire of Japan

  • Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce
  • Ministry of Colonial Affairs
  • Ministry of the Army
  • Ministry of the Navy
  • Ministry of Greater East Asia
  • Home Ministry
  • Ministry of Commerce and Industry

    Pre-[2001 Central Government Reform]

  • Prime Minister's Office
  • *National Public Safety Commission
  • **National Police Agency
  • *Financial Reconstruction Commission
  • *Management and Coordination Agency
  • *Hokkaido Development Agency
  • *Defense Agency
  • *Economic Planning Agency
  • *Science and Technology Agency
  • *Environment Agency
  • *Okinawa Development Agency
  • *National Land Agency
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Ministry of Finance
  • Ministry of Education, Science and Culture
  • Ministry of Health and Welfare
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
  • Ministry of International Trade and Industry
  • Ministry of Transport
  • Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
  • Ministry of Labour
  • Ministry of Construction
  • Ministry of Home Affairs

    Post-2001 Central Government Reform

  • Cabinet Office
  • *National Public Safety Commission
  • **National Police Agency
  • *Defense Agency
  • Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications
  • Ministry of Justice
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Ministry of Finance
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  • Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
  • Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
  • Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
  • Ministry of the Environment
As a result of the reforms in 2001, many ministries were reformed.
Several other smaller reforms were also made after the larger central government reforms were implemented in 2001.
  • In 2004, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, changed its English name into "Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications".
  • In 2007, the Defense Agency was reorganized into "Ministry of Defense".
  • In 2008, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, changed its English name into "Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism".
  • In 2012, the Reconstruction Agency was established in the aim of recovery from 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
  • In 2021, the Digital Agency was established in the aim to promote e-government and digital transformation.
  • In 2023, the Children and Families Agency was established.

    List of ministers of state

  • Prime Minister
  • Deputy Prime Minister
  • Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications
  • Minister of Justice
  • Minister for Foreign Affairs
  • Minister of Finance
  • Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
  • Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare
  • Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
  • Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
  • Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
  • Minister of the Environment
  • Minister of Defense
  • Chief Cabinet Secretary
  • Digital Minister
  • Minister for Reconstruction
  • Chairperson of the National Public Safety Commission
  • Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs
  • Minister of State for Gender Equality
  • Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Measures for Declining Birthrate
  • Minister of State for Disaster Management
  • Minister of State for National Emergency Legislation
  • Minister of State for Financial Policy
  • Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy
  • Minister of State for Privatization of the Postal Services
  • Minister of State for Regulatory Reform
  • Minister of State for Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan
  • Minister of State for Administrative Reform
  • Minister of State for Special Zones for Structural Reform
  • Minister of State for Regional Revitalization
  • Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy
  • Minister of State for Food Safety
  • Minister of State for Information Technology