# List of prime ministers of Japan by time in office

This is a list of prime ministers of Japan by time in office.

## Notable lengths

Of the 64 past prime ministers, six served more than 5 years while twenty served less than a year. Itō Hirobumi became the first Japanese prime minister in 1885 and is the only person to have served on four separate occasions. Shinzo Abe is the longest-serving prime minister with over eight years on two separate occasions, while Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni is the shortest-serving at eight weeks. Katsura Tarō was the longest-serving prime minister in the Imperial period (1885–1947) and the only person to have served on three separate occasions.

## List of office holders by tenure

* Liberal Democratic (25)
* Nonpartisan (9)
* Military (Army) (6)
* Rikken Seiyūkai (6)
* Military (Navy) (5)
* Taisei Yokusankai (4)
* Democratic (1998–2016) (3)
* Kenseikai (2)
* Rikken Minseitō (2)
* Socialist (2)
* Kenseitō (1)
* Rikken Dōshikai (1)
* Imperial Family (1)
* Liberal (1945–1948) (1)
* Democratic (1947–1950) (1)
* Democratic Liberal (1)
* Liberal (1950–1955) (1)
* Democratic (1954–1955) (1)
* New (1)
* Renewal (1)
| Rank | Prime Minister | Party | Start | End | Tenure length (term) | Tenure length (total) | Reason for exit |
| 1 | Shinzo Abe | Liberal Democratic | 26 September 2006 | 26 September 2007 | 1 year, 1 day | 8 years, 267 days | Resigned due to illness |
| 1 | Shinzo Abe | Liberal Democratic | 26 December 2012 | 16 September 2020 | 7 years, 266 days | 8 years, 267 days | Resigned due to illness |
| 2 | Katsura Tarō | Military (Army) | 2 June 1901 | 7 January 1906 | 4 years, 220 days | 7 years, 330 days | Resigned |
| 2 | Katsura Tarō | Military (Army) | 14 July 1908 | 30 August 1911 | 3 years, 48 days | 7 years, 330 days | Resigned |
| 2 | Katsura Tarō | Independent | 21 December 1912 | 20 February 1913 | 62 days | 7 years, 330 days | Resigned |
| 3 | Eisaku Satō | Liberal Democratic | 9 November 1964 | 7 July 1972 | 7 years, 242 days | 7 years, 242 days | Resigned |
| 4 | Itō Hirobumi | Independent | 22 December 1885 | 30 April 1888 | 2 years, 131 days | 7 years, 164 days | Resigned |
| 4 | Itō Hirobumi | Independent | 8 August 1892 | 31 August 1896 | 4 years, 24 days | 7 years, 164 days | Resigned |
| 4 | Itō Hirobumi | Independent | 12 January 1898 | 30 June 1898 | 170 days | 7 years, 164 days | Resigned |
| 4 | Itō Hirobumi | Rikken Seiyūkai | 19 October 1900 | 10 May 1901 | 204 days | 7 years, 164 days | Resigned |
| 5 | Shigeru Yoshida | Liberal | 22 May 1946 | 24 May 1947 | 1 year, 3 days | 7 years, 60 days | Defeated in election |
| 5 | Shigeru Yoshida | Democratic Liberal | 15 October 1948 | 10 December 1954 | 6 years, 57 days | 7 years, 60 days | Resigned |
| 5 | Shigeru Yoshida | Liberal | 15 October 1948 | 10 December 1954 | 6 years, 57 days | 7 years, 60 days | Resigned |
| 6 | Junichiro Koizumi | Liberal Democratic | 26 April 2001 | 26 September 2006 | 5 years, 154 days | 5 years, 154 days | Resigned |
| 7 | Yasuhiro Nakasone | Liberal Democratic | 27 November 1982 | 6 November 1987 | 4 years, 345 days | 4 years, 345 days | Resigned |
| 8 | Hayato Ikeda | Liberal Democratic | 19 July 1960 | 9 November 1964 | 4 years, 114 days | 4 years, 114 days | Resigned due to illness |
| 9 | Saionji Kinmochi | Rikken Seiyūkai | 7 January 1906 | 14 July 1908 | 2 years, 190 days | 3 years, 304 days | Resigned |
| 9 | Saionji Kinmochi | Rikken Seiyūkai | 30 August 1911 | 21 December 1912 | 1 year, 114 days | 3 years, 304 days | Resigned |
| 10 | Nobusuke Kishi | Liberal Democratic | 31 January 1957 | 19 July 1960 | 3 years, 171 days | 3 years, 171 days | Resigned |
| 11 | Yamagata Aritomo | Military (Army) | 24 December 1889 | 6 May 1891 | 1 year, 134 days | 3 years, 115 days | Resigned |
| 11 | Yamagata Aritomo | Military (Army) | 8 November 1898 | 19 October 1900 | 1 year, 346 days | 3 years, 115 days | Resigned |
| 12 | Hara Takashi | Rikken Seiyūkai | 29 September 1918 | 4 November 1921 | 3 years, 37 days | 3 years, 37 days | Assassinated |
| 13 | Fumio Kishida | Liberal Democratic | 4 October 2021 | 1 October 2024 | 2 years, 364 days | 2 years, 364 days | Resigned |
| 14 | Ōkuma Shigenobu | Kenseitō | 30 June 1898 | 8 November 1898 | 132 days | 2 years, 309 days | Resigned |
| 14 | Ōkuma Shigenobu | Rikken Dōshikai | 16 April 1914 | 9 October 1916 | 2 years, 177 days | 2 years, 309 days | Resigned |
| 15 | Fumimaro Konoe | Independent | 4 June 1937 | 5 January 1939 | 1 year, 216 days | 2 years, 305 days | Resigned |
| 15 | Fumimaro Konoe | Independent | 16 July 1940 | 18 October 1941 | 1 year, 95 days | 2 years, 305 days | Resigned |
| 15 | Fumimaro Konoe | Imperial Rule Assistance Association | 16 July 1940 | 18 October 1941 | 1 year, 95 days | 2 years, 305 days | Resigned |
| 16 | Hideki Tojo | Imperial Rule Assistance Association | 18 October 1941 | 22 July 1944 | 2 years, 279 days | 2 years, 279 days | Resigned |
| 17 | Matsukata Masayoshi | Independent | 6 May 1891 | 8 August 1892 | 1 year, 95 days | 2 years, 212 days | Resigned |
| 17 | Matsukata Masayoshi | Independent | 18 September 1896 | 12 January 1898 | 1 year, 117 days | 2 years, 212 days | Resigned |
| 18 | Ryutaro Hashimoto | Liberal Democratic | 11 January 1996 | 30 July 1998 | 2 years, 201 days | 2 years, 201 days | Resigned |
| 19 | Kakuei Tanaka | Liberal Democratic | 7 July 1972 | 9 December 1974 | 2 years, 156 days | 2 years, 156 days | Resigned |
| 20 | Zenkō Suzuki | Liberal Democratic | 17 July 1980 | 27 November 1982 | 2 years, 134 days | 2 years, 134 days | Resigned |
| 21 | Toshiki Kaifu | Liberal Democratic | 10 August 1989 | 5 November 1991 | 2 years, 88 days | 2 years, 88 days | Resigned |
| 22 | Tanaka Giichi | Rikken Seiyūkai | 20 April 1927 | 2 July 1929 | 2 years, 74 days | 2 years, 74 days | Resigned |
| 23 | Saitō Makoto | Military (Navy) | 26 May 1932 | 8 July 1934 | 2 years, 44 days | 2 years, 44 days | Resigned |
| 24 | Takeo Miki | Liberal Democratic | 9 December 1974 | 24 December 1976 | 2 years, 16 days | 2 years, 16 days | Lack of majority after election |
| 25 | Ichirō Hatoyama | Japan Democratic | 10 December 1954 | 23 December 1956 | 2 years, 14 days | 2 years, 14 days | Resigned |
| 25 | Ichirō Hatoyama | Liberal Democratic | 10 December 1954 | 23 December 1956 | 2 years, 14 days | 2 years, 14 days | Resigned |
| 26 | Terauchi Masatake | Military (Army) | 9 October 1916 | 29 September 1918 | 1 year, 356 days | 1 year, 356 days | Resigned |
| 27 | Takeo Fukuda | Liberal Democratic | 24 December 1976 | 7 December 1978 | 1 year, 349 days | 1 year, 349 days | Resigned |
| 28 | Wakatsuki Reijirō | Kenseikai | 30 January 1926 | 20 April 1927 | 1 year, 81 days | 1 year, 325 days | Resigned |
| 28 | Wakatsuki Reijirō | Rikken Minseitō | 14 April 1931 | 13 December 1931 | 244 days | 1 year, 325 days | Resigned |
| 29 | Hamaguchi Osachi | Rikken Minseitō | 2 July 1929 | 14 April 1931 | 1 year, 287 days | 1 year, 287 days | Resigned due to injury |
| 30 | Kiichi Miyazawa | Liberal Democratic | 5 November 1991 | 9 August 1993 | 1 year, 278 days | 1 year, 278 days | Lack of majority after election |
| 31 | Keizō Obuchi | Liberal Democratic | 30 July 1998 | 5 April 2000 | 1 year, 251 days | 1 year, 251 days | Resigned due to illness |
| 32 | Keisuke Okada | Military (Navy) | 8 July 1934 | 9 March 1936 | 1 year, 246 days | 1 year, 246 days | Resigned |
| 33 | Katō Takaaki | Kenseikai | 11 June 1924 | 28 January 1926 | 1 year, 232 days | 1 year, 232 days | Died |
| 34 | Noboru Takeshita | Liberal Democratic | 6 November 1987 | 3 June 1989 | 1 year, 210 days | 1 year, 210 days | Resigned |
| 35 | Tomiichi Murayama | Socialist | 30 June 1994 | 11 January 1996 | 1 year, 196 days | 1 year, 196 days | Resigned |
| 36 | Masayoshi Ōhira | Liberal Democratic | 7 December 1978 | 12 June 1980 | 1 year, 189 days | 1 year, 189 days | Died |
| 37 | Yamamoto Gonnohyōe | Military (Navy) | 20 February 1913 | 16 April 1914 | 1 year, 56 days | 1 year, 184 days | Resigned |
| 37 | Yamamoto Gonnohyōe | Military (Navy) | 2 September 1923 | 7 January 1924 | 128 days | 1 year, 184 days | Resigned |
| 38 | Kuroda Kiyotaka | Military (Army) | 30 April 1888 | 25 October 1889 | 1 year, 179 days | 1 year, 179 days | Resigned |
| 39 | Yoshihiko Noda | Democratic | 2 September 2011 | 26 December 2012 | 1 year, 116 days | 1 year, 116 days | Defeated in election |
| 40 | Naoto Kan | Democratic | 8 June 2010 | 2 September 2011 | 1 year, 87 days | 1 year, 87 days | Resigned |
| 41 | Katō Tomosaburō | Military (Navy) | 12 June 1922 | 24 August 1923 | 1 year, 74 days | 1 year, 74 days | Died |
| 42 | Yoshirō Mori | Liberal Democratic | 5 April 2000 | 26 April 2001 | 1 year, 22 days | 1 year, 22 days | Resigned |
| 43 | Yoshihide Suga | Liberal Democratic | 16 September 2020 | 4 October 2021 | 1 year, 19 days | 1 year, 19 days | Resigned |
| 44 | Yasuo Fukuda | Liberal Democratic | 26 September 2007 | 24 September 2008 | 365 days | 365 days | Resigned |
| 45 | Tarō Asō | Liberal Democratic | 24 September 2008 | 16 September 2009 | 358 days | 358 days | Defeated in election |
| 46 | Kōki Hirota | Independent | 9 March 1936 | 2 February 1937 | 331 days | 331 days | Resigned |
| 47 | Tetsu Katayama | Socialist | 24 May 1947 | 10 March 1948 | 292 days | 292 days | Resigned |
| 48 | Yukio Hatoyama | Democratic | 16 September 2009 | 8 June 2010 | 266 days | 266 days | Resigned |
| 49 | Morihiro Hosokawa | New | 9 August 1993 | 28 April 1994 | 263 days | 263 days | Resigned |
| 50 | Kuniaki Koiso | Imperial Rule Assistance Association | 22 July 1944 | 7 April 1945 | 260 days | 260 days | Resigned |
| 51 | Hiranuma Kiichirō | Independent | 5 January 1939 | 30 August 1939 | 238 days | 238 days | Resigned |
| 52 | Kijūrō Shidehara | Independent | 9 October 1945 | 22 May 1946 | 226 days | 226 days | Defeated in election |
| 53 | Hitoshi Ashida | Democratic | 10 March 1948 | 15 October 1948 | 220 days | 220 days | Resigned |
| 54 | Takahashi Korekiyo | Rikken Seiyūkai | 13 November 1921 | 12 June 1922 | 212 days | 212 days | Resigned |
| 55 | Mitsumasa Yonai | Military (Navy) | 16 January 1940 | 22 July 1940 | 189 days | 189 days | Resigned |
| 56 | Shigeru Ishiba | Liberal Democratic | 1 October 2024 | Incumbent | 157 days | 157 days | Incumbent |
| 57 | Kiyoura Keigo | Independent | 7 January 1924 | 11 June 1924 | 157 days | 157 days | Defeated in election |
| 58 | Inukai Tsuyoshi | Rikken Seiyūkai | 13 December 1931 | 15 May 1932 | 155 days | 155 days | Assassinated |
| 59 | Nobuyuki Abe | Military (Army) | 30 August 1939 | 16 January 1940 | 140 days | 140 days | Resigned |
| 60 | Kantarō Suzuki | Imperial Rule Assistance Association | 7 April 1945 | 17 August 1945 | 133 days | 133 days | Resigned |
| 60 | Kantarō Suzuki | Independent | 7 April 1945 | 17 August 1945 | 133 days | 133 days | Resigned |
| 61 | Senjūrō Hayashi | Military (Army) | 2 February 1937 | 4 June 1937 | 123 days | 123 days | Resigned |
| 62 | Sōsuke Uno | Liberal Democratic | 3 June 1989 | 10 August 1989 | 69 days | 69 days | Resigned |
| 63 | Tanzan Ishibashi | Liberal Democratic | 23 December 1956 | 25 February 1957 | 65 days | 65 days | Resigned due to illness |
| 64 | Tsutomu Hata | Renewal | 28 April 1994 | 30 June 1994 | 64 days | 64 days | Resigned |
| 65 | Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni | Imperial Family | 17 August 1945 | 9 October 1945 | 54 days | 54 days | Resigned |