The or are the most influential part of the

executive branch The executive branch is the part of government which executes or enforces the law. Function The scope of executive power varies greatly depending on the political context in which it emerges, and it can change over time in a given country. In ...

of the

Government of Japan The Government of Japan is the central government of Japan. It consists of legislative, executive (government), executive and judiciary branches and functions under the framework established by the Constitution of Japan. Japan is a unitary st ...

. Each ministry is headed by a

Minister of State Minister of state is a designation for a government minister, with varying meanings in different jurisdictions. In a number of European countries, the title is given as an honorific conferring a higher rank, often bestowed upon senior minister ...

appointed by the

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

. In postwar politics, the posts of ministers have been given to senior legislators, mostly of the LDP. However, few ministers serve for more than one or two years to develop the necessary grasp of the organisation to become really influential. Thus, most of the power lies within the ministries, with the senior

bureaucrats A bureaucrat is a member of a bureaucracy and can compose the administration of any organization of any size, although the term usually connotes someone within an institution of government. The term ''bureaucrat'' derives from "bureaucracy", wh ...

. The current 15 Cabinet-level ministries of the Government of Japan include: * the

Cabinet Office The Cabinet Office is a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for supporting the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, prime minister and Cabinet ...

(内閣府, ''Naikaku-fu'') * 1 Cabinet-level commission (委員会, ''īnkai'') * 2 Cabinet-level agencies (官庁, ''kanchō'') * 11 ministries (省, ''shō'') The Board of Audit of Japan is responsible for ensuring the adequacy of the Government's financial management by continuously auditing and supervising government activities, and verifying expenditures and revenues of the state.

List of ministries

Ministries in the Empire of Japan

Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce The was a cabinet-level ministry in the government of the Empire of Japan from 1881 to 1925. It was briefly recreated as the during World War II. History The original Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce was created on April 7, 1881, initially ...

(農商務省, abolished in 1925) * Ministry of Colonial Affairs (拓務省, abolished in 1942) *

Ministry of the Army The Ministry of the Army () was a government department of Spain that was tasked with oversight of the Spanish Army (''Ejército de Tierra'') during the Francoist regime. The ministry was created on 8 August 1939, after the end of the Spanish C ...

(陸軍省, abolished in 1945) * Ministry of the Navy (海軍省, abolished in 1945) *

Ministry of Greater East Asia The was a cabinet-level ministry in the government of the Empire of Japan from 1942 to 1945, established to replace the Ministry of Colonial Affairs. Its purpose was to administer overseas territories obtained by Japan in the Pacific War and to ...

(大東亜省, abolished in 1945) *

Home Ministry An interior ministry or ministry of the interior (also called ministry of home affairs or ministry of internal affairs) is a Ministry (government department), government department that is responsible for domestic policy, public security and law e ...

(内務省, abolished in 1947) *

Ministry of Commerce and Industry A ministry of trade and industry, ministry of commerce, ministry of commerce and industry or variations is a ministry that is concerned with a nation's trade, industry and commerce. Notable examples are: List *Algeria: Ministry of Industry and ...

(商工省, abolished in 1949)

Pre-
2001 Central Government Reform The by the Japanese government involved the establishment of a new ministry, the merging of existing ministries and the abolition of others. This resulted in little more than a change of ministry names (with the exception of the Environment Agen ...

*Prime Minister's Office (総理府, Sōri fu) ** National Public Safety Commission (国家公安委員会, Kokka kōan iinkai) ***

National Police Agency National Police may refer to the national police forces of several countries: *Afghanistan: Afghan National Police *Haiti: Haitian National Police *Canada: Royal Canadian Mounted Police *Colombia: National Police of Colombia *Cuba: National Revolut ...

(警察庁, Keisatsu chō) **Financial Reconstruction Commission (金融再生委員会, Kin-yū saisei iinkai) **Management and Coordination Agency (総務庁, Sōmu chō) **Hokkaido Development Agency (北海道開発庁, Hokkaidō kaihatsu chō) **Defense Agency (防衛庁, Bōei chō) **Economic Planning Agency (経済企画庁, Keizai kikaku chō) **Science and Technology Agency (科学技術庁, Kagaku gijutsu chō) **Environment Agency (環境庁, Kankyō chō) **Okinawa Development Agency (沖縄開発庁, Okinawa kaihatsu chō) **National Land Agency (国土庁, Kokudo chō) *

Ministry of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

(法務省, Hōmu shō) *

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...

(外務省, Gaimu shō) *

Ministry of Finance A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfoli ...

(大蔵省, Ōkura shō) * Ministry of Education, Science and Culture (文部省, Monbu shō) *Ministry of Health and Welfare (厚生省, Kōsei shō) *

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries may refer to: * Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Cambodia) * Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan) * Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Niue) * Depar ...

(農林水産省, Nōrin suisan shō) *

Ministry of International Trade and Industry The was a Ministry (government department), ministry of the Government of Japan from 1949 to 2001. The MITI was one of the most powerful government agencies in Japan and, at the height of its influence, effectively ran much of Japanese industri ...

(通商産業省, Tsūshō sangyō shō) *

Ministry of Transport A ministry of transport or transportation is a ministry responsible for transportation within a country. It usually is administered by the ''minister for transport''. The term is also sometimes applied to the departments or other government a ...

(運輸省, Un-yu shō) * Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (郵政省, Yūsei shō) *Ministry of Labour (労働省, Rōdō shō) * Ministry of Construction (建設省, Kensetsu shō) *

Ministry of Home Affairs An interior ministry or ministry of the interior (also called ministry of home affairs or ministry of internal affairs) is a government department that is responsible for domestic policy, public security and law enforcement. In some states, the i ...

(自治省, Jichi shō)

Post-2001 Central Government Reform

(内閣府, Naikaku fu) ** National Public Safety Commission (国家公安委員会, Kokka kōan iinkai) ***

(警察庁, Keisatsu chō) **Defense Agency (防衛庁, Bōei chō) *Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications (総務省, Sōmu shō) *

(法務省, Hōmu shō) *

(外務省, Gaimu shō) *

(財務省, Zaimu shō) *

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology The , also known as MEXT, is one of the eleven ministries of Japan that compose part of the executive branch of the government of Japan. History The Meiji period, Meiji government created the first Ministry of Education in 1871. In January 2001 ...

(文部科学省, Monbu kagaku shō) *

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare The is a cabinet level ministry of the Japanese government. It is commonly known as in Japan. The ministry provides services on health, labour and welfare. It was formed with the merger of the former Ministry of Health and Welfare or and th ...

(厚生労働省, Kōsei rōdō shō) *

(農林水産省, Nōrin suisan shō) *

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry The , METI for short, is a ministry of the Government of Japan. It was created by the 2001 Central Government Reform when the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) merged with agencies from other ministries related to economic acti ...

(経済産業省, Keizai sangyō shō) *Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (国土交通省, Kokudo kōtsū shō) * Ministry of the Environment (環境省, Kankyō shō) As a result of the reforms in 2001, many ministries were reformed. *The Financial Reconstruction Commission was abolished. *Prime Minister's Office + Economic Planning Agency + Okinawa Development Agency = Cabinet Office *Management and Coordination Agency + Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications + Ministry of Home Affairs = Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications *Science and Technology Agency + Ministry of Education, Science and Culture = Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology *Ministry of Health and Welfare + Ministry of Labour = Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare *The Ministry of International Trade and Industry changed its name into "Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry". *Hokkaido Development Agency + National Land Agency + Ministry of Transport + Ministry of Construction = Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport *The Environment Agency was reorganized into "Ministry of the Environment".

As of April 2023

(内閣府, Naikaku fu) * National Public Safety Commission (国家公安委員会, Kokka kōan iinkai) * Digital Agency (デジタル庁, Dejitaru chō) *

Reconstruction Agency The is an agency of the Government of Japan, Japanese government established on February 10, 2012 to coordinate reconstruction activities related to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. Mission Accordi ...

(復興庁, Fukkō chō) * Children and Families Agency (こども家庭庁, Kodomo katei chō) *

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications The is a Cabinet (government), cabinet-level ministry in the Government of Japan. Its English name was Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications (MPHPT) prior to 2004. It is housed in the 2nd Building of the Centr ...

(総務省, Sōmu shō) *

(法務省, Hōmu shō) *

(外務省, Gaimu shō) *

(財務省, Zaimu shō) *

(文部科学省, Monbu kagaku shō) *

(厚生労働省, Kōsei rōdō shō) *

(農林水産省, Nōrin suisan shō) *

(経済産業省, Keizai sangyō shō) *

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism The , abbreviated MLIT, is a ministry of the Japanese government.国土交通省設置法

(国土交通省, Kokudo kōtsū shō) * Ministry of the Environment (環境省, Kankyō shō) *

Ministry of Defense A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and military forces, found in states where the government is divided ...

(防衛省, Bōei shō) Several other smaller reforms were also made after the larger central government reforms were implemented in 2001. *In 2004, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, changed its English name into "Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications" (Japanese name was not changed). *In 2007, the Defense Agency was reorganized into "Ministry of Defense". *In 2008, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, changed its English name into "Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism" (Japanese name was not changed). *In 2012, the

was established in the aim of recovery from

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami On 11 March 2011, at 14:46:24 Japan Standard Time, JST (05:46:24 UTC), a 9.0–9.1 Submarine earthquake, undersea megathrust earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Oshika Peninsula of the Tōhoku region. It lasted approx ...

. *In 2021, the Digital Agency was established in the aim to promote

e-government E-government (known for electronic government) involves utilizing technology devices, such as computers and the Internet, for faster means of delivering public services to citizens and other persons in a country or region. E-government offer ...

and

digital transformation Digital transformation (DT) is the process of adoption and implementation of digital technology by an organization in order to create new or modify existing products, services and operations by the means of translating business processes into a d ...

. *In 2023, the Children and Families Agency was established.

List of ministers of state

(内閣総理大臣) *

Deputy Prime Minister A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a Minister (government), government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to th ...

(副総理) *

Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications The is a member of the Cabinet of Japan and is the leader and chief executive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The minister is also a statutory member of the National Security Council (Japan), National Security Council, and ...

(総務大臣) *

Minister of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

(法務大臣) *

Minister for Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral re ...

(外務大臣) *

Minister of Finance A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfolio ...

(財務大臣) *

Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology The is a member of the Cabinet of Japan and is the leader and chief executive of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The minister is nominated by the Prime Minister of Japan and is appointed by the Emperor of Japan. ...

(文部科学大臣) *Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働大臣) *

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries may refer to: * Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Cambodia) * Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan) * Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Niue) * Depart ...

(農林水産大臣) *

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry The is a member of the Cabinet of Japan and is the leader and chief executive of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The minister is also a statutory member of the National Security Council (Japan), National Security Council, and is nomin ...

(経済産業大臣) *

Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism The is a member of the Cabinet of Japan and is the leader and chief executive of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The minister is also a statutory member of the National Security Council (Japan), National Security Coun ...

(国土交通大臣) *

Minister of the Environment An environment minister (sometimes minister of the environment or secretary of the environment) is a cabinet position charged with protecting the natural environment and promoting wildlife conservation. The areas associated with the duties of a ...

(環境大臣) *

Minister of Defense A ministry of defence or defense (see spelling differences), also known as a department of defence or defense, is the part of a government responsible for matters of defence and military forces, found in states where the government is divid ...

(防衛大臣) * Chief Cabinet Secretary (内閣官房長官) *Digital Minister (デジタル大臣) *Minister for Reconstruction (復興大臣) *

Chairperson of the National Public Safety Commission The is a member of the Cabinet of Japan and is the presiding officer of the National Public Safety Commission, which is the parent agency of the National Police Agency. The chairperson holds the rank of minister of state, and is a statutory mem ...

(国家公安委員会委員長) * Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs (内閣府特命担当大臣- 沖縄及び北方対策) * Minister of State for Gender Equality (内閣府特命担当大臣: 男女共同参画) * Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Measures for Declining Birthrate (内閣府特命担当大臣- 青少年育成及び少子化対策) *

Minister of State for Disaster Management Minister may refer to: * Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric ** Minister (Catholic Church) * Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department) ** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...

(内閣府特命担当大臣- 防災) * Minister of State for National Emergency Legislation (内閣府特命担当大臣- 有事法制担当) * Minister of State for Financial Policy (内閣府特命担当大臣- 金融) *

Minister of State for Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister may refer to: * Minister (Christianity), a Christian cleric ** Minister (Catholic Church) * Minister (government), a member of government who heads a ministry (government department) ** Minister without portfolio, a member of government w ...

(内閣府特命担当大臣- 経済財政政策) * Minister of State for Privatization of the Postal Services (内閣府特命担当大臣- 郵政民営化担当) * Minister of State for Regulatory Reform (内閣府特命担当大臣- 規制改革) * Minister of State for Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan (内閣府特命担当大臣- 産業再生機構) * Minister of State for Administrative Reform (内閣府特命担当大臣- 行政改革担当) * Minister of State for Special Zones for Structural Reform (内閣府特命担当大臣- 構造改革特区) * Minister of State for Regional Revitalization (内閣府特命担当大臣- 地域再生担当) * Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy (内閣府特命担当大臣- 科学技術政策) * Minister of State for Food Safety (内閣府特命担当大臣- 食品安全) * Minister of State for Information Technology (内閣府特命担当大臣- 情報通信技術（IT）担当)

References

{{Ministries of Japan Government of Japan *

List of ministries

Ministries in the Empire of Japan

Pre-2001 Central Government Reform The by the Japanese government involved the establishment of a new ministry, the merging of existing ministries and the abolition of others. This resulted in little more than a change of ministry names (with the exception of the Environment Agen ...

Post-2001 Central Government Reform

As of April 2023

List of ministers of state

References

Pre-
2001 Central Government Reform The by the Japanese government involved the establishment of a new ministry, the merging of existing ministries and the abolition of others. This resulted in little more than a change of ministry names (with the exception of the Environment Agen ...