The 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.
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
Current Cabinet
The current cabinet is led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and succeeded the Second Takaichi cabinet. This is Takaichi's first reshuffled cabinet during her premiership.
the makeup of the Cabinet is as follows:
+Parties Liberal Democratic Japan Innovation
MinisterOffice(s)DepartmentStart Sanae Takaichi Prime Minister Cabinet OfficeHisayuki FujiiMinister for Internal Affairs and CommunicationsMinister of State for Regional RevitalizationMinister in charge of Strategy for the Future of RegionsMinistry of Internal Affairs and CommunicationsTakashi YamashitaMinister of JusticeMinister of State for Gender EqualityMinister in charge of Women's EmpowermentMinister in Charge of Verification and Reform of the Legal SystemMinistry of JusticeToshimitsu MotegiMinister for Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign AffairsSatsuki KatayamaMinister of FinanceMinister of State for Financial ServicesMinister in charge of Reviewing Special Measures Concerning Taxation and SubsidiesMinistry of FinanceFinancial Services AgencyYoshihiro SekiMinister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and TechnologyMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and TechnologyKenichiro UenoMinister of Health, Labour and WelfareMinistry of Health, Labour and WelfareKazuo YanaMinister of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesMinistry of Agriculture, Forestry and FisheriesRyosei AkazawaMinister of Economy, Trade and IndustryMinister in charge of the Response to the Economic Impact Caused by the Nuclear AccidentMinister in charge of Green TransformationMinister in charge of Industrial CompetitivenessMinister in charge of Securing the Stability of Critical Goods in Response to the Situation in the Middle EastMinister of State for the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation CorporationMinistry of Economy, Trade and IndustryCabinet OfficeTatsunori IbayashiMinister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and TourismMinister in charge of Water Cycle PolicyMinister in charge of the World Horticultural Exhibition Yokohama 2027Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and TourismHiroyoshi SasagawaMinister of the EnvironmentMinister of State for Nuclear Emergency PreparednessMinister in Charge of Measures Against Bear-Related DamageMinistry of the EnvironmentCabinet OfficeShinjirō KoizumiMinister of DefenseMinistry of DefenseMinoru KiharaChief Cabinet SecretaryMinister in charge of Mitigating the Impact of U.S. Forces in OkinawaMinister in charge of the Abduction IssueCabinet OfficeToshiharu FurukawaMinister for Digital TransformationMinister in charge of CybersecurityMinister of State for Intellectual Property StrategyMinister of State for Science and Technology PolicyMinister of State for Space PolicyMinister of State for Artificial Intelligence StrategyMinister of State for Ocean PolicyDigital AgencyCabinet OfficeGoshi HosonoMinister for ReconstructionMinister in charge of Comprehensive Policy Coordination for Revival from the Nuclear Accident at FukushimaMinister in charge of the Preparation of Establishing the Disaster Management AgencyMinister in charge of Building National ResilienceMinister for International Disaster Risk Reduction CooperationReconstruction AgencyCabinet OfficeYasuhiro HanashiChairperson of the National Public Safety CommissionMinister in charge of Territorial IssuesMinister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories AffairsMinister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food SafetyMinister of State for Ainu-Related PoliciesNational Public Safety CommissionCabinet OfficeHiroshi NakatsukaMinister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food SafetyMinister of State for Policies Related to Children, Declining Birthrate, and Youth EmpowermentMinister of State for Promoting Cohesive and Mutual Assistance SocietyMinister in charge of Administrative ReformMinister in charge of the National Civil Service System ReformMinister for Regulatory ReformCabinet OfficeMinoru KiuchiMinister in Charge of Japan's Growth StrategyMinister in charge of Developing an Environment for Wage IncreasesMinister in charge of StartupsMinister in charge of Social Security Reform Oriented to All GenerationsMinister of State for Economic and Fiscal PolicyCabinet OfficeKimi OnodaMinister in charge of Economic SecurityMinister in charge of Infectious Disease Crisis ManagementMinister in charge of a Society of Well-Ordered and Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign NationalsMinister of State for Economic SecurityCabinet Office
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
General and cited references "Cabinet Profiles" [since 2008]. The Japan Times. Accessed 13 October 2012. 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 Official Website of the prime minister of Japan and His Cabinet List of successive Japanese cabinets (in Japanese) Previous Cabinets (Since 1996) and list of previous prime ministers (Since 1885) Cabinet Office Cabinet Secretariat Cabinet Legislation Bureau