Cabinet of Japan

{{Short description|Executive branch of the Government of Japan}} {{Infobox government agency | native_name_a = {{lang|ja|内閣}} | native_name_r = {{lang|ja|Naikaku}} | seal = Gosichigirimon.svg | seal_width = 100px | seal_caption = The Government crest of Japan | image = Kantei PM Japan Residence.jpg | image_caption = Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei (Prime Minister's Office of Japan) | formed = {{start date and age|df=yes|1885|12|22}} | preceding1 = Daijō-kan | jurisdiction = Government of Japan | headquarters = Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan | chief1_name = Sanae Takaichi | chief1_position = Prime Minister of Japan | child1_agency = Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei (Prime Minister's Office) | child2_agency = Cabinet Office | child3_agency = Ministries of Japan | website = https://japan.kantei.go.jp/ }} {{Politics of Japan}}

The {{Nihongo|'''Cabinet of Japan'''|内閣|Naikaku|{{IPA|ja|naꜜi.ka.kɯ}}<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典|publisher=NHK Publishing|editor=NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute|date=24 May 2016|lang=ja}}</ref>}} is the chief executive body of the government of Japan. It consists of the prime minister, who is appointed by the Emperor after being nominated by the National Diet, in addition to up to seventeen other members, called ministers of state. The current cabinet, the Second Takaichi cabinet, was formed on 18 February 2026 and is led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The country has had a Liberal Democratic Party-led majority government since 2026.

The prime minister is nominated by the National Diet, while the remaining ministers are appointed and dismissed by the prime minister. The Cabinet is collectively responsible to the National Diet and must resign if a motion of no confidence is adopted by the National Diet.

==Appointment== Under the Constitution of Japan, Cabinet ministers are appointed after the selection of the prime minister. A majority of the Cabinet, including the prime minister, must be members of the National Diet, and all members must be civilians. Under the Cabinet Law, the number of Cabinet ministers (excluding the prime minister) must be fourteen or less, but this may be increased to seventeen if a special need arises. If the Cabinet collectively resigns, it continues to exercise its functions until the appointment of a new prime minister. While they are in office, legal action may not be taken against Cabinet ministers without the consent of the prime minister. The Cabinet must resign ''en masse'' in the following circumstances: *When a motion of no confidence is adopted, or a vote of confidence defeated, by the House of Representatives, unless there is a dissolution of the house within ten days. *Upon the first convocation of the National Diet after a general election to the House of Representatives (even if the same prime minister is to be re-elected and appointed, and every other minister is to be reappointed). *When the position of prime minister becomes vacant, or the prime minister declares his intention to resign.

==Powers== The Cabinet exercises two kinds of power. Some of its powers are nominally exercised by the Emperor with the binding "advice and approval" of the Cabinet. Other powers are explicitly vested in the Cabinet. Contrary to the practice in many constitutional monarchies, the Emperor is not even the ''nominal'' chief executive. Instead, the Constitution explicitly vests executive authority in the Cabinet. Hence, nearly all of the day-to-day work of governing is done by the Cabinet.

In practice, much of the Cabinet's authority is exercised by the prime minister. Under the Constitution, the prime minister exercises "control and supervision" over the executive branch, and no law or Cabinet order can take effect without the prime minister's countersignature (and the emperor's promulgation). While Cabinet Ministers in most other parliamentary democracies theoretically have some freedom of action (within the limits of cabinet collective responsibility), the Japanese Cabinet is effectively an extension of the prime minister's authority.

According to Article 75 of the Constitution, Ministers of State are not subject to legal action without the consent of the prime minister during their tenure of office.

<gallery class="center"> File:Kantei PM Japan Residence.jpg|The Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei (Prime Minister's Office) is where the Cabinet is located. File:Goshichi no kiri.svg|The 5–7 paulownia commonly used as the symbol of the prime minister, cabinet, as well as the government at large. File:内閣印.svg|The seal of the Cabinet </gallery>

===Powers exercised via the Emperor=== * Promulgation of amendment of the constitution, laws, cabinet orders, and treaties * Convocation of the National Diet * Dissolution of the House of Representatives * Proclamation of general elections to the National Diet * Receiving of foreign ambassadors and ministers * Conferring of honours

===Explicit powers=== * Execution of the law * Conduct of foreign affairs * Conclusion of treaties (with the consent of the National Diet). * Administration of the civil service * Drafting of the budget (which must be adopted by the National Diet) * Adoption of cabinet orders * Granting of general amnesty, special amnesty, commutation of punishment, reprieve, and restoration of rights * Signing of laws or cabinet orders by the relevant Minister of State and countersigned by the Prime Minister * Appointment of the associate justices of the Supreme Court of Japan (except for the Chief Justice, who is nominated by the Prime Minister and formally appointed by the Emperor) * Appointment of vice-ministers (who are nominated by their respective minister to whom they will report)

==List of cabinets of Japan== {{main|List of Japanese cabinets}}

==Current Cabinet== {{Main|Second Takaichi cabinet}}

The current cabinet, led by the newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, was formed on 21 October 2025.

{{As of|2025|10|21|post=,}} the makeup of the most recent Cabinet is as follows:<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=List of Ministers Inaugurated on November 11, 2024|url=https://japan.kantei.go.jp/103/meibo/daijin/index_e.html |access-date=12 November 2024 |website=Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei (Prime Minister's Office of Japan)}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|- | colspan=6 | 50px 104th Cabinet of Japan Second Takaichi cabinet

|- | colspan=6 | Color key: {{legend0|{{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}|Liberal Democratic|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{small|MR: member of the House of Representatives, MC: member of the House of Councillors, B: bureaucrat}}

|- ! colspan=3 scope="col" | Minister {{Small|Constituency}} ! Office(s) ! Department ! Took office

|- ! colspan=6 | Cabinet ministers

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|100x100px | '''Sanae Takaichi''' {{Small|MR for Nara 2nd}} | Prime Minister | Cabinet Office | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px | '''Yoshimasa Hayashi''' {{Small|MR for Yamaguchi 3rd}} | Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications | Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px | '''Hiroshi Hiraguchi''' {{Small|MR for Hiroshima 2nd}} | Minister of Justice | Ministry of Justice | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px | '''Toshimitsu Motegi''' {{Small|MR for Ōita 3rd}} | Minister for Foreign Affairs | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|96x96px | '''Satsuki Katayama''' {{Small|MC for National PR block}} |Minister of Finance Minister of State for Financial Services Minister in charge of reviewing special tax measures subsidies |Ministry of Finance Financial Services Agency | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px | '''Yohei Matsumoto''' {{Small|MR for Tokyo PR block}} |Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister in charge of Education Rebuilding |Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px | '''Kenichiro Ueno''' {{Small|MR for Shiga 2nd district}} | Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px | '''Norikazu Suzuki''' {{Small|MR for Yamagata 2nd}} | Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries | Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}} |- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px | '''Ryosei Akazawa''' {{Small|MR for Tottori 2nd}} | Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Minister in charge of the Response to the Economic Impact Caused by the Nuclear Accident Minister for Green Transformation Minister in charge of Industrial Competitiveness Minister of State for the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation | Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | alt=|75px | scope="row" | '''Yasushi Kaneko''' {{Small|MR for Kumamoto 4th}} | Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism | Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px | '''Hirotaka Ishihara''' {{Small|MC for Kanagawa at-large}} | Minister of the Environment Minister of State for Nuclear Emergency Preparedness | Ministry of the Environment | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px |'''Shinjirō Koizumi''' {{Small|MR for Kanagawa 11th}} | Minister of Defense | Ministry of Defense | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | alt=|75px | scope="row" | '''Minoru Kihara''' {{Small|MR for Kumamoto 1st}} | Chief Cabinet Secretary Minister in charge of Mitigating the Impact of U.S. Forces in Okinawa Minister in charge of the Abduction Issue | Cabinet Secretariat Cabinet Office | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px | '''Hisashi Matsumoto''' {{Small|MR for Chiba 13th}} | Minister for Digital Transformation Minister in charge of Administrative Reform Minister in charge of Civil Service Reform Minister in charge of Cybersecurity Minister of State for Regulatory Reform | Digital Agency Cabinet Office | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | |style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px |'''Takao Makino''' {{Small|MC for Shizuoka at-large}} |Minister of Reconstruction Minister in charge of Comprehensive Policy Coordination for Revival from the Nuclear Accident at Fukushima | Reconstruction Agency | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px |'''Jiro Akama''' {{Small|MR for Kanagawa 14th}} | Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission Minister in charge of Building National Resilience Minister in charge of Territorial Issues Minister of State for Disaster Management and Ocean Policy | National Public Safety Commission Cabinet Office | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px |'''Hitoshi Kikawada''' {{Small|MR for Saitama 3rd}} | Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs | Cabinet Office | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px |'''Minoru Kiuchi''' {{Small|MR for Shizuoka 7th}} |Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy | Cabinet Office | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}}

|- ! style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | | style="text-align:center;" |frameless|75px |'''Kimi Onoda''' {{Small|MC for Okayama at-large}} | Minister in charge of Economic Security Minister in charge of the Foreign Nationals policy | Cabinet Office | {{Start date and age|2025|10|21|df=yes|p=yes|br=yes}} |}

==See also== * Cabinet Office * List of female cabinet ministers of Japan * Naikaku Sōri Daijin Kantei (Prime Minister's Office of Japan) * Politics of Japan

== Citations == {{Reflist}}

== General and cited references== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20040623111921/http://www.japantimes.com/cabinets.htm "Cabinet Profiles"] [since 2008]. ''The Japan Times''. Accessed 13 October 2012. * [https://japan.kantei.go.jp/rekidaisouri/koizumi_e.html Cabinet Secretariat, Office of Cabinet Public Relations, Japan (2003)] prime minister of Japan and His Cabinet. Retrieved 28 Oct. 2003 * Hunter, Janet (1984). ''Concise Dictionary of Modern Japanese History''. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, pp. 266–324, Appendix 5: Japanese Cabinets Since the Introduction of the Cabinet System in 1885 [to 1980].

==External links== * [https://japan.kantei.go.jp/index.html Official Website of the prime minister of Japan and His Cabinet] * [http://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/rekidainaikaku/index.html List of successive Japanese cabinets] (in Japanese) * [https://japan.kantei.go.jp/archives_e.html Previous Cabinets (Since 1996) and list of previous prime ministers (Since 1885)] {{In lang|en}} * [https://www.cao.go.jp/index-e.html Cabinet Office] * [http://www.cas.go.jp/index.html Cabinet Secretariat] {{In lang|ja}} * [http://www.clb.go.jp/english/ Cabinet Legislation Bureau]

{{Cabinets of Japan}} {{Ministries of Japan}} {{Asia topic|Cabinet of |title=National cabinets of Asia}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Cabinet of Japan Category:Government of Japan