Heads of State of Japan
Emperor of Japan
Emperor Kanmu
Date of birth/date of death: b. 735; d. April 9 806.
Imperial House of Japan
781 – 806
Emperor Kōkaku
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 23 1771; d. December 11 1840.
Imperial House of Japan
1779 – 1817
Emperor Shōwa
Date of birth/date of death: b. April 29 1901; d. January 7 1989.
Imperial House of Japan
1926 – 1989
Akihito
Date of birth/date of death: b. December 23 1933.
Spouse: Michiko (b. October 20 1934), m. 1959.
Issue: (1) Naruhito, Emperor of Japan (b. February 23 1960); (2) Fumihito, Crown Prince Akishino (b. November 30 1965); (3) Sayako Kuroda (b. April 18 1969).
Prime ministers: Noboru Takeshita (1989); Sōsuke Uno (1989); Toshiki Kaifu (1989 – 1991); Kiichi Miyazawa (1991 – 1993); Morihiro Hosokawa (1993 – 1994); Tsutomu Hata (1994); Tomiichi Murayama (1994 – 1996); Ryutaro Hashimoto (1996 – 1998); Keizō Obuchi (1998 – 2000); Yoshirō Mori (2000 – 2001); Junichiro Koizumi (2001 – 2006); Shinzo Abe (2006 – 2007); Yasuo Fukuda (2007 – 2008); Tarō Asō (2008 – 2009); Yukio Hatoyama (2009 – 2010); Naoto Kan (2010 – 2011); Yoshihiko Noda (2011 – 2012); Shinzo Abe (2012 – 2019).
Titles of Japanese Royalty: Crown Prince of Japan (1952 – 1989).
Imperial House of Japan
1989 – 2019
Naruhito
Date of birth/date of death: b. February 23 1960.
Spouse: Masako Owada (b. December 9 1963), m. 1993.
Issue: Aiko, Princess Toshi (b. December 1 2001).
Prime Ministers: Shinzo Abe (2019 – 2020); Fumio Kishida (2021 – 2024); Shigeru Ishiba (2024 – present).
Titles of Japanese Royalty: Crown Prince of Japan (1989 – 2019).
Imperial House of Japan
2019 – present
Imperial Household Agency
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan
Prince Katsura Tarō
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 4 1848; d. October 10 1913.
1912
General Prince Fushimi Sadanaru
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 9 1858; d. February 4 1923
1912 – 1915
Viscount Saitō Makoto
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 27 1858; d. February 26 1936.
1935 – 1936
President of the Privy Council of Japan
Viscount Kiyoura Keigo
Date of birth/date of death: b. February 14/March 27 1850; d. November 5 1942.
1922 – 1924
Baron Kiichirō Hiranuma
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 28 1867; d. August 22 1952.
1936 – 1939
Prince Fumimaro Konoe
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 12 1891; d. December 16 1945.
1939 – 1940
Baron Kantarō Suzuki
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 18 1868; d. April 17 1948.
1944 – 1945
Baron Kiichirō Hiranuma
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 28 1867; d. August 22 1952.
1945
Baron Kantarō Suzuki
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 18 1868; d. April 17 1948.
1945 – 1946
Vice President of the Privy Council of Japan
Viscount Kiyoura Keigo
Date of birth/date of death: b. February 14/March 27 1850; d. November 5 1942.
1917 – 1922
Baron Kiichirō Hiranuma
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 28 1867; d. August 22 1952.
1926 – 1936
Baron Kantarō Suzuki
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 18 1868; d. April 17 1948.
1940 – 1944
Heads of Government of Japan
Japan
Prime Minister of Japan
Count Ōkuma Shigenobu
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 11 1838; d. January 10 1922.
Kenseitō
1898
Prince Katsura Tarō
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 4 1848; d. October 10 1913.
Independent
1901 – 1906
Prince Katsura Tarō
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 4 1848; d. October 10 1913.
Independent
1908 – 1911
Prince Katsura Tarō
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 4 1848; d. October 10 1913.
Independent
1912 – 1913
Admiral Count Yamamoto Gonnohyōe
Date of birth/date of death: b. November 26 1852; d. December 8 1933.
Independent
1913 – 1914
Marquess Ōkuma Shigenobu
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 11 1838; d. January 10 1922.
Rikken Dōshikai
1914 – 1916
Field Marshal Count Terauchi Masatake
Date of birth/date of death: b. February 5 1852; d. November 3 1919.
Independent
1916 – 1918
Hara Takashi
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 15 1856; d. November 4 1921.
Rikken Seiyūkai
1918 – 1921
Count Uchida Kōsai (*acting)
Date of birth/date of death: b. November 17 1865; d. March 12 1936.
Independent
1921
Viscount Takahashi Korekiyo
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 27 1854; d. February 26 1936.
Rikken Seiyūkai
1921 – 1922
Marshal Admiral Baron Katō Tomosaburō
Date of birth/date of death: b. February 22 1861; d. August 24 1923.
Independent
1922 – 1923
Count Uchida Kōsai (*acting)
Date of birth/date of death: b. November 17 1865; d. March 12 1936.
Independent
1923
Count Yamamoto Gonnohyōe
Date of birth/date of death: b. November 26 1852; d. December 8 1933.
Independent
1923 – 1924
Viscount Kiyoura Keigo
Date of birth/date of death: b. February 14/March 27 1850; d. November 5 1942.
Independent
1924
Viscount Katō Takaaki
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 3 1860; d. January 28 1926.
Kenseikai
1924 – 1926
Wakatsuki Reijirō
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 21 1866; d. November 20 1949.
Kenseikai
1926 – 1927
Baron Tanaka Giichi
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 22 1864; d. September 29 1929.
Rikken Seiyūkai
1927 – 1929
Hamaguchi Osachi (*see note)
Date of birth/date of death: b. April 1 1870; d. August 26 1931.
Note: Incapacitated following a right-wing ultranationalist assassination attempt on November 14 1930. Kijūrō Shidehara served as acting Prime Minister until March 1931.
Rikken Minseitō
1929 – 1931
Baron Kijūrō Shidehara (*acting)
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 13 1872; d. March 10 1951.
Independent
1930 – 1931
Baron Wakatsuki Reijirō
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 21 1866; d. November 20 1949.
Rikken Minseitō
1931
Inukai Tsuyoshi
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 4 1855; d. May 15 1932.
Rikken Seiyūkai
1931 – 1932
Viscount Takahashi Korekiyo (*acting)
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 27 1854; d. February 26 1936.
Rikken Seiyūkai
1932
Viscount Saitō Makoto
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 27 1858; d. February 26 1936.
Independent
1932 – 1934
Keisuke Okada
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 20 1868; d. October 7 1952.
Independent
1934 – 1936
Fumio Gotō (*acting)
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 7 1884; d. May 13 1980.
Independent
1936
Kōki Hirota
Date of birth/date of death: b. February 14 1878; d. December 23 1948.
Independent
1936 – 1937
Senjūrō Hayashi
Date of birth/date of death: b. February 23 1876; d. February 4 1943.
Independent
1937
Prince Fumimaro Konoe
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 12 1891; d. December 16 1945.
Independent
1937 – 1939
Baron Kiichirō Hiranuma
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 28 1867; d. August 22 1952.
Independent
1939
Nobuyuki Abe
Date of birth/date of death: b. November 24 1875; d. September 7 1953.
Independent
1939 – 1940
Admiral Mitsumasa Yonai
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 2 1880; d. April 20 1948.
Independent
1940
Prince Fumimaro Konoe
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 12 1891; d. December 16 1945.
Imperial Rule Assistance Association
1940 – 1941
Hideki Tojo
Date of birth/date of death: b. December 30 1884; d. December 23 1948.
Imperial Rule Assistance Association
1941 – 1944
Kuniaki Koiso
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 22 1880; d. November 3 1950.
Imperial Rule Assistance Association
1944 – 1945
Baron Kantarō Suzuki
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 18 1868; d. April 17 1948.
Imperial Rule Assistance Association (1945); Independent (1945)
1945
Naruhito, Prince Higashikuni
Date of birth/date of death: b. December 3 1887; d. January 20 1990.
Independent
1945
Baron Kijūrō Shidehara
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 13 1872; d. March 10 1951.
Independent
1945 – 1946
Shigeru Yoshida
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 22 1878; d. October 20 1967.
Japan Liberal Party
1946 – 1947
Tetsu Katayama
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 28 1887; d. May 30 1978.
Japan Socialist Party
1947 – 1948
Hitoshi Ashida
Date of birth/date of death: b. November 15 1887; d. June 20 1959.
Democratic Party
1948
Shigeru Yoshida
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 22 1878; d. October 20 1967.
Democratic Liberal Party (1948 – 1950); Liberal Party (1950 – 1954)
1948 – 1954
Ichirō Hatoyama
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 1 1883; d. March 7 1959.
Japan Democratic Party (1954 – 1955); Liberal Democratic Party (1955 – 1956)
1954 – 1956
Tanzan Ishibashi
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 25 1884; d. April 25 1973.
Liberal Democratic Party
1956 – 1957
Nobusuke Kishi
Date of birth/date of death: b. November 13 1896; d. August 7 1987.
Liberal Democratic Party
1957 – 1960
Hayato Ikeda
Date of birth/date of death: b. December 3 1899; d. August 13 1965.
Liberal Democratic Party
1960 – 1974
Eisaku Satō
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 27 1901; d. June 3 1975.
Liberal Democratic Party
1964 – 1972
Kakuei Tanaka
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 7 1961.
Liberal Democratic Party
1972 – 1974
Takeo Miki
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 17 1907; d. November 14 1988.
Liberal Democratic Party
1974 – 1976
Takeo Fukuda
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 14 1905; d. July 5 1995.
Liberal Democratic Party
1976 – 1978
Masayoshi Ōhira
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 12 1910; d. June 12 1980.
Liberal Democratic Party
1978 – 1980
Masayoshi Ito (*acting)
Date of birth/date of death: b. December 15 1913; d. May 21 1994.
Liberal Democratic Party
1980
Zenkō Suzuki
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 11 1911; d. July 19 2004.
Liberal Democratic Party
1980 – 1982
Yasuhiro Nakasone
Date of birth/date of death: b. May 27 1918; d. November 29 2019.
Liberal Democratic Party
1982 – 1987
Noboru Takeshita
Date of birth/date of death: b. February 26 1924; d. June 19 2000.
Liberal Democratic Party
1987 – 1989
Sōsuke Uno
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 27 1922; d. May 19 1998.
Liberal Democratic Party
1989
Toshiki Kaifu
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 2 1931; d. January 9 2022.
Liberal Democratic Party
1989 – 1991
Kiichi Miyazawa
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 8 1919; d. June 28 2007.
Liberal Democratic Party
1991 – 1993
Morihiro Hosokawa
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 14 1938.
Japan New Party
1993 – 1994
Tsutomu Hata
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 24 1935; d. August 28 2017.
Japan Renewal Party
1994
Tomiichi Murayama
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 3 1924; d. October 17 2025.
Japan Socialist Party
1994 – 1996
Ryutaro Hashimoto
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 29 1937; d. July 1 2006.
Liberal Democratic Party
1996 – 1998
Keizō Obuchi
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 25 1937; d. May 14 2000.
Liberal Democratic Party
1998 – 2000
Mikio Aoki (*acting)
Date of birth/date of death: b. June 8 1934; d. June 11 2023.
Liberal Democratic Party
2000
Yoshirō Mori
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 14 1937.
Liberal Democratic Party
2000 – 2001
Junichiro Koizumi
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 8 1942.
Liberal Democratic Party
2001 – 2006
Shinzo Abe
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 21 1954; d. July 8 2022.
Liberal Democratic Party
2006 – 2007
Yasuo Fukuda
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 16 1936.
Liberal Democratic Party
2007 – 2008
Tarō Asō
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 20 1940.
Liberal Democratic Party
2008 – 2009
Yukio Hatoyama
Date of birth/date of death: b. February 11 1947.
Democratic Party of Japan
2009 – 2010
Naoto Kan
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 10 1946.
Democratic Party of Japan
2010 – 2011
Yoshihiko Noda
Date of birth/date of death: b. May 20 1957.
Democratic Party of Japan
2011 – 2012
Shinzo Abe
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 21 1954; d. July 8 2022.
Liberal Democratic Party
2012 – 2020
Yoshihide Suga
Date of birth/date of death: b. December 6 1948.
Liberal Democratic Party
2020 – 2021
Fumio Kishida
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 29 1957.
Liberal Democratic Party
2021 – 2024
Shigeru Ishiba
Date of birth/date of death: b. February 4 1957.
Monarch: Naruhito.
Other prominent offices: Member of the House of Representatives (1986 – present); Director-General of the Japan Defence Agency (2002 – 2004); Minister of Defence (2007 – 2008); Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (2008 – 2009); Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party (2012 – 2014); President of the Liberal Democratic Party (2024 – present).
Liberal Democratic Party
2024 – 2025
Sanae Takaichi
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 7 1961.
Liberal Democratic Party
2025 – present
Deputy Prime Minister of Japan
Kijūrō Shidehara
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 13 1872; d. March 10 1951.
Independent
1947
Hitoshi Ashida
Date of birth/date of death: b. November 15 1887; d. June 20 1959.
Democratic Party
1947 – 1948
Takeo Miki
Date of birth/date of death: b. March 17 1907; d. November 14 1988.
Liberal Democratic Party
1972 – 1974
Takeo Fukuda
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 14 1905; d. July 5 1995.
Liberal Democratic Party
1974 – 1976
Masayoshi Ito
Date of birth/date of death: b. December 15 1913; d. May 21 1994.
Liberal Democratic Party
1980
Tsutomu Hata
Date of birth/date of death: b. August 24 1935; d. August 28 2017.
Japan Renewal Party
1993 – 1994
Yōhei Kōno
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 15 1937.
Liberal Democratic Party
1994 – 1995
Ryutaro Hashimoto
Date of birth/date of death: b. July 29 1937; d. July 1 2006.
Liberal Democratic Party
1995 – 1996
Wataru Kubo
Date of birth/date of death: b. January 15 1929; d. June 24 2003.
Japan Socialist Party
1996
Naoto Kan
Date of birth/date of death: b. October 10 1946.
Democratic Party of Japan
2009 – 2010
Tarō Asō
Date of birth/date of death: b. September 20 1940.
Liberal Democratic Party
2012 – 2021