Categories: General Studies

List of Japan’s Prime Ministers from 1885 to 2024

Japan’s political leadership has seen various transitions from the Meiji era to the present day. The role of the Prime Minister has been crucial in shaping the nation’s domestic policies and international relations. This list explores the Prime Ministers who have led Japan from the establishment of the office in 1885 up until 2024.

An Overview of Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean and bordered by the Sea of Japan. It comprises four main islands—Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu—and many smaller ones, covering 377,975 km². With nearly 124 million people in 2024, Japan’s capital, Tokyo, is the world’s largest metropolitan area. Its mountainous terrain, located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, makes it prone to earthquakes and tsunamis.

List of Prime Ministers of Japan from 1885 to 2024

The list of Prime Ministers of Japan from 1885 to 2024 includes leaders who have played significant roles in shaping the country’s political landscape. Japan’s prime ministers have overseen various historical events, from the Meiji Restoration through World War II to the modern era of global diplomacy and economic development.

Here is the list of Prime Ministers of Japan from 1885 to 2024:

Prime Ministers of Japan from 1885 to 2024
Name Tenure
From To
ITO Hirobumi December 22, 1885 April 30, 1888
Kuroda Kiyotaka April 30, 1888 October 25, 1889
Yamagata Aritomo December 24, 1889 May 6, 1891
Matsukata Masayoshi May 6, 1891 August 8, 1892
ITO Hirobumi August 8, 1892 August 31, 1896
Matsukata Masayoshi September 18, 1896 January 12, 1898
ITO Hirobumi January 12, 1898 June 30, 1898
Okuma Shigenobu June 30, 1898 November 8, 1898
Yamagata Aritomo November 8, 1898 October 19,1900
ITO Hirobumi October 19, 1900 May 10, 1901
Katsura Taro June 2, 1901 January 7, 1906
SaionJi Kinmochi January 7, 1906 July 14, 1908
Katsura Taro July 14, 1908 August 30, 1911
SaionJi Kinmochi August 30, 1911 December 21, 1912
Katsura Taro December 21, 1912 February 20, 1913
Yamamoto Gonbe February 20, 1913 April 16, 1914
Okuma Shingenobu April 16, 1914 October 9, 1916
Terauchi Masatake October 9, 1916 September 29, 1918
Hara Takashi September 29, 1918 November 4, 1921
Takahashi Korekiyo November 13, 1921 June 12, 1922
Kato Tomosaburo June 12, 1922 August 24, 1923
Yamamoto Gonbe September 2, 1923 January 7, 1924
Kiyoura Keigo January 7, 1924 June 11, 1924
Kato Takaaki June 11, 1924 January 28, 1926
Wakatsuki Reijiro January 30, 1926 April 20, 1927
Tanaka Giichi April 20, 1927 July 2, 1929
Hamaguchi Osachi July 2, 1929 April 14, 1931
Wakatsuki Reijiro April 14, 1931 December 13, 1931
Inukai Tsuyoshi December 13, 1931 May 16, 1932
Saito Makoto May 26, 1932 July 8, 1934
Okada Keisuke July 8, 1934 March 9, 1936
Hirota Koki March 9, 1936 February 2, 1937
Hayashi Senjuro February 2, 1937 June 4, 1937
Konoe Fumimaro June 4, 1937 January 5, 1939
Hiranuma Kiichiro January 5, 1939 August 30, 1939
Abe Nobuyuki August 30, 1939 January 16, 1940
Yonai Mitsumasa January 16, 1940 July 22, 1940
Konoe Fumimaro July 22, 1940 July 18, 1941
Konoe Fumimaro July 18, 1941 October 18, 1941
Tojo Hideki October 18, 1941 July 18, 1944
Koiso Kuniaki July 22, 1944 April 7, 1945
Suzuki Kantaro April 7, 1945 August 17, 1945
Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko August 17, 1945 October 9, 1945
Shidehara Kijyuro October 9, 1945 May 22, 1946
Yoshida Shigeru May 22, 1946 May 24, 1947
Katamaya Testu May 24, 1947 March 10, 1948
Ashida Hitoshi May 10, 1948 October 15, 1948
Yoshida Shigeru October 15, 1948 February 16, 1949
Yoshida Shigeru February 16, 1949 October 30, 1952
Yoshida Shigeru October 30, 1952 May 21, 1953
Yoshida Shigeru May 21, 1953 December 10, 1954
Hatomaya Ichiro December 10, 1954 March 19, 1955
Hatomaya Ichiro March 19, 1955 November 22, 1955
Hatomaya Ichiro November 22, 1955 December 23, 1956
Ishibashi Tanzan December 23, 1956 February 25, 1957
Kishi Nobusuke February 25, 1957 June 12, 1958
Kishi Nobusuke June 12, 1958 July 19, 1960
Ikeda Hayato July 19, 1960 December 8, 1960
Ikeda Hayato December 8, 1960 December 9, 1963
Ikeda Hayato December 9, 1963 November 9, 1964
Sato Eisaku November 9, 1964 February 17, 1967
Sato Eisaku February 17, 1967 January 14, 1970
Sato Eisaku January 14, 1970 July 7, 1972
Tanaka Kakuei July 7, 1972 December 22, 1972
Tanaka Kakuei December 22, 1972 December 9, 1974
Miki Takeo December 9, 1974 December 24, 1976
Fukuda Takeo December 24, 1976 December 7, 1978
Ohira Masayoshi December 7, 1978 November 9, 1979
Ohira Masayoshi November 9, 1979 June 12, 1980
Suzuki Zenko July 17, 1980 November 27, 1982
Nakasone Yasuhiro November 27, 1982 December 27, 1983
Nakasone Yashiro December 27, 1983 July 22, 1986
Nakasone Yashiro July 22, 1986 November 6, 1987
Takeshita Noboru November 6, 1987 June 3, 1989
Uno Sousuke June 3, 1989 August 10, 1989
Faifu Toshiki August 10, 1989 February 28, 1990
Faifu Toshiki February 28, 1990 November 5, 1991
Miyazawa Kiichi November 5, 1991 August 9, 1993
Hosokawa Morihiro August 9, 1993 April 28, 1994
Hata Tsutomu April 28, 1994 June 30, 1994
Murayama Tomiichi June 30, 1994 January 11, 1996
Hashimoto Ryutaro January 11, 1996 November 7, 1996
Hashimoto Ryutaro November 7, 1996 July 30, 1998
Obuchi Keizo July 30, 1998 April 5, 2000
Mori Yoshiro April 5, 2000 July 4, 2000
Mori Yoshiro July 4, 2000 April 26, 2001
Koizumi Junichiro April 26, 2001 November 19, 2003
Koizumi Junichiro November 19, 2003 September 21, 2005
September 21, 2005 September 26, 2006
Abe Shinzo September 26, 2006 September 26, 2007
Fukudo Yasuo September 26, 2007 September 24, 2008
Aso Taro September 24, 2008 September 16, 2009
Hatoyama Yukio September 16, 2009 June 8, 2010
Kan Naoto June 8, 2010 September 2, 2011
Noda Yoshiko September 2, 2011 December 26, 2012
Abe Shinzo December 26, 2012 December 24, 2014
Abe Shinzo December 24, 2014 November 1, 2017
Abe Shinzo November 1, 2017 September 16, 2020
Suga Yoshihide September 16, 2020 October 4, 2021
Kishida Fumio October 4, 2021 November 10, 2021
Shigeru Ishiba October 1, 2024

Akansha Arora

My role as a content writer specializing in current affairs at Adda247 involves meticulously researching and crafting compelling articles aimed at guiding and informing candidates preparing for National and State Level Competitive Government Exams. With a dedication to educational excellence, I strive to keep our candidates abreast of the latest developments and trends in current affairs. By providing insightful and engaging content, I aim to ensure that aspiring candidates are well-prepared and informed for their examinations.

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