Prime Minister of Japan facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of Japan
Standard of the Prime Minister of Japan
Emblem of the Prime Minister of Japan
Incumbent Shigeru Ishiba since 1 October 2024
Executive branch of the Japanese government Office of the Prime Minister
Style	Naikaku sōridaijin (formal) His Excellency (formal and diplomatic) Shushō (informal and during Party debates) Sōri (informal)
Member of	Cabinet National Security Council National Diet
Residence	Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei
Seat	Tokyo
Nominator	National Diet
Appointer	Emperor
Term length	Not fixed, based on the appointee ability to command a parliamentary confidence
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Japan
Precursor	Daijō-daijin of Japan
Formation	22 December 1885; 139 years ago (1885-12-22)
First holder	Itō Hirobumi
Deputy	Deputy Prime Minister
Salary	¥40,490,000/ USD$ 257,597 annually

The Prime Minister of Japan is the leader of the Japanese government. This important person guides the country. They lead the Cabinet of Japan, which is a group of top government officials. The Prime Minister also chooses and can remove these officials. They are also the main leader of Japan's military, called the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

Japan's parliament, known as the National Diet, chooses the Prime Minister. This person is usually a member of the House of Representatives. After the Diet chooses, the Emperor of Japan officially appoints them. To stay in power, the Prime Minister needs the support of the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister works and lives in a special building in Tokyo. It is called the Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei.

Many people have served as Prime Minister of Japan. The first was Itō Hirobumi, who started in 1885. The person who served the longest was Shinzo Abe. He was Prime Minister for over eight years. The shortest-serving Prime Minister was Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni. He served for only fifty-four days.

On 7 September 2025, the current Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, annonuced his intention to resign.

What is the Prime Minister of Japan?
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What is the Prime Minister of Japan?

The Prime Minister of Japan is the most powerful leader in the Japanese government. They are in charge of running the country day-to-day. This includes making important decisions and leading the team of ministers.

Different Names for the Prime Minister

In Japan, the Prime Minister has a few different names. These names can change depending on the situation. The full Japanese title is Naikaku Sōri-Daijin. This means "Minister President of the Cabinet."

People often use shorter names. You might hear Sōri-Daijin, Sōri, Shushō, or Saishō. All these names refer to the same important leader. In English, we simply call them the 'Prime Minister'.

How the Role Began

Japan's government has changed a lot over time. Long ago, Japan had different ways of being ruled. There wasn't a written constitution like today. Power was sometimes held by powerful families or military leaders called shōgun. The Emperor of Japan was always important, but not always the one making daily decisions.

The role of Prime Minister started to take shape in the late 1800s. Before that, a top official was called the Daijō-daijin. This person led the highest government department.

The First Prime Minister

In 1885, a new position was created. It was called the Minister President of State. Itō Hirobumi became the first person to hold this new role. This happened before Japan had its modern constitution. The job of Prime Minister as we know it today began in 1947. That's when the current Constitution of Japan was adopted.

Itō Hirobumi, the first Prime Minister of Japan

Many leaders have served as Prime Minister since then. Shinzo Abe served the longest, for over eight years. The shortest time was by Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, who served for only 54 days.

How a Prime Minister is Chosen

Choosing a Prime Minister is a very important process. Both parts of Japan's parliament, the National Diet, vote for a candidate. They do this before anything else. If both parts of the Diet choose the same person, that person becomes the nominee.

Sometimes, the two parts of the Diet choose different people. If they can't agree, the choice made by the House of Representatives usually wins. This means the House of Representatives has a lot of power in choosing the Prime Minister. After being chosen, the Emperor of Japan officially appoints the new Prime Minister. This happens at the Tokyo Imperial Palace.

The Prime Minister needs to keep the support of the Diet to stay in office. This usually means they are the leader of the biggest political party. Or they lead the main party in a group of parties working together.

Who Can Be Prime Minister?

To become Prime Minister, a person must meet certain requirements:

They must be a member of the National Diet. This means they are at least 25 years old. They must also be a Japanese citizen.
They must be a civilian. This means they cannot be a serving member of the military. However, someone who used to be in the military can become Prime Minister.

What Does the Prime Minister Do?

The Prime Minister has many important jobs. They lead the entire government. They make sure all parts of the government are working well.

Leading the Government

The Prime Minister presents new laws to the Diet. They sign laws and government orders. They choose all the ministers for the Cabinet. They can also remove ministers if needed. The Prime Minister reports to the Diet about Japan's activities at home and with other countries. They must also answer questions from the Diet. They can even suggest to the Emperor that the House of Representatives be dissolved.

Commander of the Military

The Prime Minister is also the top leader of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. This means they are in charge of Japan's military. They lead Cabinet meetings. In Japan, the Prime Minister has a very strong role. They are truly the main leader of the government.

Symbols of the Office

The Prime Minister has special symbols that represent their office. These include a unique flag and an emblem.

Standard of the Prime Minister
Seal of the Prime Minister
Mon (crest) of the Prime Minister

Where the Prime Minister Works and Lives

The Prime Minister of Japan has a special office and home. It is located in Tokyo, close to the Diet building. The office is called the Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei.

Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei, the Prime Minister's Office of Japan

There is a newer Kantei building that opened in 2002. The older Kantei building is now the official residence. It is called the Kōtei. The Kōtei is connected to the Kantei by a walkway.

How the Prime Minister Travels

The Prime Minister uses special vehicles for travel. For ground travel, they use a Toyota Century car. A Lexus LS 600h L is also available as a backup car.

For trips to other countries, the Japanese government has two Boeing 777 airplanes. These planes are called Japanese Air Force One and Japanese Air Force Two. They are also used by the Emperor of Japan and other important officials. The planes always fly together. One is the main plane, and the other is a backup.

Toyota Century
Japanese Air Force One

Special Awards and Honors

After leaving office, former Prime Ministers often receive special recognition. In the past, some were given noble titles. This system ended when Japan's modern constitution began in 1947.

Today, former Prime Ministers can receive high honors. One such honor is the Order of the Chrysanthemum. This is a very prestigious award in Japan. It is given for great service to the country. Sometimes, these awards are given after a person has passed away.

The Prime Minister also gives out awards to others. These awards recognize achievements in sports, entertainment, and other areas. Examples include the Prime Minister's Award and the People's Honour Award. These awards celebrate people who have done great things for Japan.