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While there are many different types of governments, some of the most common include presidential, parliamentary, and monarchical. Since Japan is a parliamentary monarchy, the elected government is ultimately in charge of setting national policy, even though the emperor acts as the head of state. The parliament selects the prime minister, who serves as the head of government. Shigeru Ishiba became Japan's next prime minister after winning the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership vote. Formerly, Fumio Kishida was the Prime Minister of Japan before Shigeru Ishiba. Recently, Ishiba resigned from his position as the Japan's PM on September 7, 2025. He served as prime minister from late 2021 until he announced his decision not to seek re-election in August 2024, amid various challenges, including corruption scandals and declining public approval ratings.
Following his resignation, Sanae Takaichi was elected as Japan’s new prime minister on October 21, 2025. She made history by becoming the country’s first female prime minister. Known for her conservative policies and strong stance on national security, Takaichi aims to revitalize Japan’s economy, strengthen defense capabilities, and reinforce the nation’s ties with key allies such as the United States.
Additionally, do you know Japan has a total of 64 Prime Ministers from 1885 till now, with Itō Hirobumi being the first Prime Minister of Japan and Shigeru Ishiba being the most recent addition to this list? Let's learn more about the political history of Japan and how each prime minister has contributed to the country's development and growth over the years.
List of the Prime Ministers of Japan (1885-2025)
Here is the table of the list of successive Prime Ministers of Japan:
| No. | Prime Minister | Days in Office | Term |
| 102th | Sanae Takaichi | - | October 21, 2025 - incumbent |
| 101th | Shigeru Ishiba | 341 | October 1, 2024 - September 7, 2025 |
| 100th | KISHIDA Fumio | 38 | October 4, 2021 - November 10, 2021 |
| 99th | SUGA Yoshihide | 384 | September 16, 2020 - October 4, 2021 |
| 98th | ABE Shinzo | 1,051 | November 1, 2017 - September 16, 2020 |
| 97th | ABE Shinzo | 1,044 | December 24, 2014 - November 1, 2017 |
| 96th | ABE Shinzo | 729 | December 26, 2012 - December 24, 2014 |
| 95th | NODA Yoshihiko | 482 | September 2, 2011 - December 26, 2012 |
| 94th | KAN Naoto | 452 | June 8, 2010 - September 2, 2011 |
| 93rd | HATOYAMA Yukio | 266 | September 16, 2009 - June 8, 2010 |
| 92nd | ASO Taro | 358 | September 24, 2008 - September 16, 2009 |
| 91st | FUKUDA Yasuo | 365 | September 26, 2007 - September 24, 2008 |
| 90th | ABE Shinzo | 366 | September 26, 2006 - September 26, 2007 |
| 89th | KOIZUMI Junichiro | 371 | September 21, 2005 - September 26, 2006 |
| 88th | KOIZUMI Junichiro | 673 | November 19, 2003 - September 21, 2005 |
| 87th | KOIZUMI Junichiro | 938 | April 26, 2001 - November 19, 2003 |
| 86th | MORI Yoshiro | 297 | July 4, 2000 - April 26, 2001 |
| 85th | MORI Yoshiro | 91 | April 5, 2000 - July 4, 2000 |
| 84th | OBUCHI Keizo | 616 | July 30, 1998 - April 5, 2000 |
| 83rd | HASHIMOTO Ryutaro | 631 | November 7, 1996 - July 30, 1998 |
| 82nd | HASHIMOTO Ryutaro | 302 | January 11, 1996 - November 7, 1996 |
| 81st | MURAYAMA Tomiichi | 561 | June 30, 1994 - January 11, 1996 |
| 80th | HATA Tsutomu | 64 | April 28, 1994 - June 30, 1994 |
| 79th | HOSOKAWA Morihiro | 263 | August 9, 1993 - April 28, 1994 |
| 78th | MIYAZAWA Kiichi | 644 | November 5, 1991 - August 9, 1993 |
| 77th | KAIFU Toshiki | 616 | February 28, 1990 - November 5, 1991 |
| 76th | KAIFU Toshiki | 203 | August 10, 1989 - February 28, 1990 |
| 75th | UNO Sousuke | 69 | June 3, 1989 - August 10, 1989 |
| 74th | TAKESHITA Noboru | 576 | November 6, 1987 - June 3, 1989 |
| 73rd | NAKASONE Yasuhiro | 473 | July 22, 1986 - November 6, 1987 |
| 72nd | NAKASONE Yasuhiro | 939 | December 27, 1983 - July 22, 1986 |
| 71st | NAKASONE Yasuhiro | 396 | November 27, 1982 - December 27, 1983 |
| 70th | SUZUKI Zenko | 864 | July 17, 1980 - November 27, 1982 |
| 69th | OHIRA Masayoshi | 217 | November 9, 1979 - June 12, 1980 |
| 68th | OHIRA Masayoshi | 338 | December 7, 1978 - November 9, 1979 |
| 67th | FUKUDA Takeo | 714 | December 24, 1976 - December 7, 1978 |
| 66th | MIKI Takeo | 747 | December 9, 1974 - December 24, 1976 |
| 65th | TANAKA Kakuei | 718 | December 22, 1972 - December 9, 1974 |
| 64th | TANAKA Kakuei | 169 | July 7, 1972 - December 22, 1972 |
| 63rd | SATO Eisaku | 906 | January 14, 1970 - July 7, 1972 |
| 62nd | SATO Eisaku | 1,063 | February 17, 1967 - January 14, 1970 |
| 61st | SATO Eisaku | 831 | November 9, 1964 - February 17, 1967 |
| 60th | IKEDA Hayato | 337 | December 9, 1963 - November 9, 1964 |
| 59th | IKEDA Hayato | 1,097 | December 8, 1960 - December 9, 1963 |
| 58th | IKEDA Hayato | 143 | July 19, 1960 - December 8, 1960 |
| 57th | KISHI Nobusuke | 769 | June 12, 1958 - July 19, 1960 |
| 56th | KISHI Nobusuke | 473 | February 25, 1957 - June 12, 1958 |
| 55th | ISHIBASHI Tanzan | 65 | December 23, 1956 - February 25, 1957 |
| 54th | HATOYAMA Ichiro | 398 | November 22, 1955 - December 23, 1956 |
| 53rd | HATOYAMA Ichiro | 249 | March 19, 1955 - November 22, 1955 |
| 52nd | HATOYAMA Ichiro | 100 | December 10, 1954 - March 19, 1955 |
| 51st | YOSHIDA Shigeru | 569 | May 21, 1953 - December 10, 1954 |
| 50th | YOSHIDA Shigeru | 204 | October 30, 1952 - May 21, 1953 |
| 49th | YOSHIDA Shigeru | 1,353 | February 16, 1949 - October 30, 1952 |
| 48th | YOSHIDA Shigeru | 125 | October 15, 1948 - February 16, 1949 |
| 47th | ASHIDA Hitoshi | 220 | March 10, 1948 - October 15, 1948 |
| 46th | KATAYAMA Tetsu | 292 | May 24, 1947 - March 10, 1948 |
| 45th | YOSHIDA Shigeru | 368 | May 22, 1946 - May 24, 1947 |
| 44th | SHIDEHARA Kijyuro | 226 | October 9, 1945 - May 22, 1946 |
| 43rd | Prince HIGASHIKUNI Naruhiko | 54 | August 17, 1945 - October 9, 1945 |
| 42nd | SUZUKI Kantaro | 133 | April 7, 1945 - August 17, 1945 |
| 41st | KOISO Kuniaki | 260 | July 22, 1944 - April 7, 1945 |
| 40th | TOJO Hideki | 1,009 | October 18, 1941 - July 22, 1944 |
| 39th | KONOE Fumimaro | 93 | July 18, 1941 - October 18, 1941 |
| 38th | KONOE Fumimaro | 362 | July 22, 1940 - July 18, 1941 |
| 37th | YONAI Mitsumasa | 189 | January 16, 1940 - July 22, 1940 |
| 36th | ABE Nobuyuki | 140 | August 30, 1939 - January 16, 1940 |
| 35th | HIRANUMA Kiichiro | 238 | January 5, 1939 - August 30, 1939 |
| 34th | KONOE Fumimaro | 581 | June 4, 1937 - January 5, 1939 |
| 33rd | HAYASHI Senjuro | 123 | February 2, 1937 - June 4, 1937 |
| 32nd | HIROTA Koki | 331 | March 9, 1936 - February 2, 1937 |
| 31st | OKADA Keisuke | 611 | July 8, 1934 - March 9, 1936 |
| 30th | SAITO Makoto | 774 | May 26, 1932 - July 8, 1934 |
| 29th | INUKAI Tsuyoshi | 156 | December 13, 1931 - May 16, 1932 |
| 28th | WAKATSUKI Reijiro | 244 | April 14, 1931 - December 13, 1931 |
| 27th | HAMAGUCHI Osachi | 652 | July 2, 1929 - April 14, 1931 |
| 26th | TANAKA Giichi | 805 | April 20, 1927 - July 2, 1929 |
| 25th | WAKATSUKI Reijiro | 446 | January 30, 1926 - April 20, 1927 |
| 24th | KATO Takaaki | 597 | June 11, 1924 - January 28, 1926 |
| 23rd | KIYOURA Keigo | 157 | January 7, 1924 - June 11, 1924 |
| 22nd | YAMAMOTO Gonbe | 128 | September 2, 1923 - January 7, 1924 |
| 21st | KATO Tomosaburo | 440 | June 12, 1922 - August 24, 1923 |
| 20th | TAKAHASHI Korekiyo | 212 | November 13, 1921 - June 12, 1922 |
| 19th | HARA Takashi | 1,133 | September 29, 1918 - November 4, 1921 |
| 18th | TERAUCHI Masatake | 721 | October 9, 1916 - September 29, 1918 |
| 17th | OKUMA Shigenobu | 908 | April 16, 1914 - October 9, 1916 |
| 16th | YAMAMOTO Gonbe | 421 | February 20, 1913 - April 16, 1914 |
| 15th | KATSURA Taro | 62 | December 21, 1912 - February 20, 1913 |
| 14th | SAIONJI Kinmochi | 480 | August 30, 1911 - December 21, 1912 |
| 13rd | KATSURA Taro | 1,143 | July 14, 1908 - August 30, 1911 |
| 12nd | SAIONJI Kinmochi | 920 | January 7, 1906 - July 14, 1908 |
| 11st | KATSURA Taro | 1,681 | June 2, 1901 - January 7, 1906 |
| 10th | ITO Hirobumi | 204 | October 19, 1900 - May 10, 1901 |
| 9th | YAMAGATA Aritomo | 711 | November 8, 1898 - October 19, 1900 |
| 8th | OKUMA Shigenobu | 132 | June 30, 1898 - November 8, 1898 |
| 7th | ITO Hirobumi | 170 | January 12, 1898 - June 30, 1898 |
| 6th | MATSUKATA Masayoshi | 482 | September 18, 1896 - January 12, 1898 |
| 5th | ITO Hirobumi | 1,485 | August 8, 1892 - August 31, 1896 |
| 4th | MATSUKATA Masayoshi | 461 | May 6, 1891 - August 8, 1892 |
| 3rd | YAMAGATA Aritomo | 499 | December 24, 1889 - May |
| 2nd | KURODA Kiyotaka | 544 | April 30, 1888 - October 25, 1889 |
| 1st | ITO Hirobumi | 861 | December 22, 1885 - April 30, 1888 |
Source: Prime Minister’s Office of Japan
Who is Japan’s Current Prime Minister?
Sanae Takaichi is Japan’s new prime minister as of October 21, 2025, making history as the country’s first female leader after winning the parliamentary vote and securing support from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP).
Early Life & Education
Sanae Takaichi was born in 1961 in Nara Prefecture, Japan. She attended Kobe University, graduating with a degree in economics before briefly working in the private sector. Influenced early on by conservative ideology and inspired by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, she later studied in the United States, where exposure to global politics deepened her resolve to enter public service.
Political Career
Takaichi entered politics in the early 1990s, initially serving as an independent before joining the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Over the years, she built a reputation as a staunch conservative aligned with the late Shinzo Abe, advocating his “Abenomics” framework and nationalist policies.
She held various cabinet posts, including ministerial roles overseeing internal affairs and telecommunications. Known for her hardline stances on security, defense, and traditional social policies, Takaichi pushed for stronger national defense, opposition to dual surnames for married couples, and tighter immigration controls.
Selection as Japan’s Current Prime Minister
Takaichi’s ascension followed the resignation of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba amid electoral setbacks for the LDP. After the long-standing coalition with the centrist Komeito party collapsed, she successfully forged a new partnership with the right-leaning Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin), securing enough votes — 237 out of 465 in the lower house — to win the premiership.
Her leadership marks both a political shift toward conservatism and a symbolic breakthrough in Japan’s male-dominated political landscape. Domestically, markets reacted positively to her victory, with the Nikkei reaching record highs, as her government is expected to maintain fiscal stimulus and pro-business policies.
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Steps Down from his Position? Why?
Source: Politico
The current Prime Minister of Japan, Shigeru Ishiba, has officially announced his resignation. On Sunday, September 7, 2025, he stated his intention to step down from his position as both Prime Minister and president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). This decision comes after mounting pressure from within his party following significant electoral defeats.
Key developments leading to his resignation include:
- A major defeat in the upper house elections on July 20, 2025, where the LDP and its coalition partner, Komeito, lost their majority.
- A prior electoral setback in October 2024, shortly after Ishiba took office, which resulted in the LDP losing its majority in the lower house.
- A sharp decline in his Cabinet's approval rating, which a Kyodo News poll in July showed had plummeted to 23%. This low rating was a significant factor, as such a level of public disapproval is often unsustainable.
Ishiba's resignation was announced just one day before the LDP was scheduled to hold a vote on whether to hold an early leadership election, which was widely seen as a de facto no-confidence motion. His departure now triggers a new LDP leadership contest to choose his successor.
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