The prime minister of Japan is the head of the executive branch and chief minister of the government of Japan. This is a list of prime ministers of Japan, from when the first Japanese prime minister (in the modern sense), Itō Hirobumi, took office in 1885, until the present day. The office is currently held by Fumio Kishida. Those prime ministers under the Meiji Constitution had a mandate from the emperor. The "electoral mandates" shown are for the lower house of the Imperial Diet that was not constitutionally guaranteed to have any influence on the appointment of the prime minister. Daijō-daijin The office of Daijō-daijin (太政大臣, Chancellor of the Realm of Japan) was the equivalent of what would become the office of prime minister. It was an ancient role which had been discontinued in the 18th century and briefly revived during the Meiji era. Daijō-daijin 1871–1885 Sanjō Sanetomi (三条実美) (1837–1891) The office of Daijō-daijin was abolished in December 1885 with the appointment of Itō Hirobumi in the new position of prime minister. List of prime ministers Timeline Rank by length of total tenures Relations between Japanese prime ministers See also Cabinet of Japan List of cabinets of Japan Deputy Prime Minister of Japan Notes References External links Official Website of the Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinets Prime Ministers Japanese prime ministers by time in office Prime Ministers Japan Prime Ministers