Prime Minister of Japan
| Prime Minister of Japan | |
|---|---|
| 日本国内閣総理大臣 | |
Emblem of the Prime Minister of Japan | |
Standard of the Prime Minister of Japan | |
| 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) |
| Type | |
| Member of | Cabinet National Security Council National Diet |
| Residence | Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei |
| Seat | Tokyo |
| Nominator | National Diet |
| Appointer | Emperor |
| Term length | No fixed term length, renewable indefinitely. |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Japan |
| Precursor | Daijō-daijin of Japan |
| Formation | 22 December 1885 |
| First holder | Itō Hirobumi |
| Deputy | Deputy Prime Minister |
| Salary | ¥40,490,000/ USD$ 257,597 annually |
| Website | Official website |
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The prime minister of Japan (（内閣）総理大臣, (Naikaku) Sōri Daijin; Japanese pronunciation: [(naꜜi.ka.kɯ |) soː.ɾʲi daꜜi.dʑiɴ]) is the head of government of Japan. The prime minister chairs the Cabinet of Japan and has the ability to select and dismiss its ministers of state. The prime minister also serves as the commander-in-chief of the Japan Self Defence Forces.
The National Diet (parliament) nominates the prime minister from among its members (typically from among the members of the House of Representatives). He is then formally appointed by the emperor. The prime minister must retain the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office. The prime minister lives and works at the Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei (Prime Minister's Official Residence) in Nagatachō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, close to the National Diet Building.
Sixty-five men have served as prime minister, the first of whom was Itō Hirobumi taking office on 22 December 1885. The longest-serving prime minister was Shinzo Abe, who served over eight years, and the shortest-serving was Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, who served fifty-four days. The current prime minister is Shigeru Ishiba, who succeeded Fumio Kishida on 1 October 2024, following the 2024 Liberal Democratic Party presidential election.