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The is the usual English-language term used for the head of government of Japan, although the literal translation of the Japanese name for the office is ''Prime Minister of the Cabinet''. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office. The Prime Minister is the head of the Cabinet and appoints and dismisses the Ministers of State. The current Prime Minister of Japan, since September 2006, is Shinzo Abe.

Contents

Appointment

Role

History

Official office and residence

Living former Japanese Prime Ministers

See also

External links

Appointment

The Prime Minister is designated by both houses of the Diet, before the conduct of any other business. For that purpose, each conducts a ballot under the run-off system. If the two houses choose different individuals, then a joint committee of both houses is appointed to agree on a common candidate. Ultimately, however, if the two houses do not agree within ten days, the decision of the House of Representatives is deemed to be that of the Diet. Therefore, the House of Representatives can theoretically ensure the appointment of any Prime Minister it wishes.
The Prime Minister must resign if the House of Representatives adopts a motion of no confidence or defeats a vote of confidence, unless the House of Representatives is dissolved within ten days. The Prime Minister must also resign after every general election to the House of Representatives, even if they have won a majority in the house. The office of Prime Minister has by convention usually been occupied by the leader of the largest party in the Diet with rare exceptions such as Tsutomu Hata or Tomiichi Murayama.

Role

Role of the Prime Minister of Japan is regulated in the Constitution of Japan which was promulgated in 1947.

★ "Exercises control and supervision" over the executive branch.

★ Chairs meetings of the Cabinet.

★ Appoints and dismisses Ministers of State.

★ Permits legal action to be taken against Ministers of State.

★ Counter-signs, along with the competent minister, all laws and cabinet orders.

★ Supreme Command of the Self Defense Forces.

History

After the Meiji Restoration, the Daijō-kan system, which was used in the Nara period, was adopt as the Japanese government entity. Political powers of their leader, Daijō Daijin and his aids, Sadaijin and Nadaijin were ambiguous and frequently conflicted with other positions such as Sangi. In 1880s Itō Hirobumi, then one of Sangi, started to examine the reformation of the governmental organization. In 1882 Ito and his staffs, Ito Miyoji and Saionji Kinmochi travelled to Europe and investigated constitutions in constitutional monarchies, British Empire and German Empire. After the return to Japan Ito urged the need of Constitution and a modern governmental system and persuaded conservatives to approve his plan.
On December 22 1885, in the Daijō-kan order No. 69, abolition of Daijō-kan and the induction of the Prime minister(内閣総理大臣) and his cabinet were published.

Official office and residence

The Office of the Prime Minister of Japan is called the ''Kantei''. The original Kantei served from 1929 until 2002. A new building was inaugurated at this time and now serves as the new Kantei. The old Kantei was then converted to the new official residence, or ''Kōtei''.

Living former Japanese Prime Ministers

★ Yasuhiro Nakasone (May 27, 1918-)

★ Toshiki Kaifu (January 2, 1931-)

★ Morihiro Hosokawa (January 14, 1938-)

★ Tsutomu Hata (August 24, 1935-)

★ Tomiichi Murayama (March 3, 1924-)

★ Yoshiro Mori (July 14, 1937-)

★ Junichiro Koizumi (January 8,1942-)

See also

★ List of Prime Ministers of Japan

★ Politics of Japan

★ History of Japan

★ Parliamentary system

External links

★ Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet. Official website.

★ List of Japanese cabinets (in Japanese only).