The or are the most influential part of the
executive branch
The Executive, also referred as the Executive branch or Executive power, is the term commonly used to describe that part of government which enforces the law, and has overall responsibility for the governance of a State (polity), state.
In poli ...
of the
Government of Japan. Each
ministry
Ministry may refer to:
Government
* Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister
* Ministry (government department), a department of a government
Religion
* Christian ...
is headed by a
Minister of State appointed by the
Prime Minister. 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.
The current 15 Cabinet-level ministries of the Government of Japan include:
* the
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for supporting the prime minister and Cabinet. It is composed of various units that support Cabinet committees and which co-ordinate the delivery of government objecti ...
(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 1881-1925. 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 under ...
(農商務省, abolished in 1925)
*
Ministry of Colonial Affairs (拓務省, abolished in 1942)
*
Ministry of the Army (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 administer overseas territories obtained by Japan in the Pacific War and to coordinate the establishment and development of the Greater Eas ...
(大東亜省, abolished in 1945)
*
Home Ministry (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 M ...
(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 (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 (法務省, Hōmu shō)
*
Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...
(外務省, Gaimu shō)
*
Ministry of Finance (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 (通商産業省, Tsūshō sangyō shō)
*
Ministry of Transport (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 (sometimes called a ministry of internal affairs or ministry of home affairs) is a government department that is responsible for internal affairs.
Lists of current ministries of internal affairs
Named "ministry"
* Ministry ...
(自治省, Jichi shō)
Post-2001 Central Government Reform
*
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for supporting the prime minister and Cabinet. It is composed of various units that support Cabinet committees and which co-ordinate the delivery of government objecti ...
(内閣府, Naikaku fu)
**
National Public Safety Commission (国家公安委員会, Kokka kōan iinkai)
***
National Police Agency (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)
*
Ministry of Justice (法務省, Hōmu shō)
*
Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...
(外務省, Gaimu shō)
*
Ministry of Finance (財務省, Zaimu shō)
*
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
The , also known as MEXT or Monka-shō, is one of the eleven Ministries of Japan that composes part of the executive branch of the Government of Japan. Its goal is to improve the development of Japan in relation with the international community ...
(文部科学省, Monbu kagaku shō)
*
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省, Kōsei rōdō 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 Economy, Trade and Industry (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 September 2021
*
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for supporting the prime minister and Cabinet. It is composed of various units that support Cabinet committees and which co-ordinate the delivery of government objecti ...
(内閣府, Naikaku fu)
*
National Public Safety Commission (国家公安委員会, Kokka kōan iinkai)
*
Digital Agency
The is an agency of the Japanese government established on September 1, 2021, aimed at strengthening digitalization in Japan.
The slogan is “Government as a Startup”.
Overview
Even before the Digital Agency establishment bill was passed, th ...
(デジタル庁, Dejitaru chō)
*
Reconstruction Agency
The is an agency of the 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
According to "Role of the Re ...
(復興庁, Fukkō chō)
*
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (総務省, Sōmu shō)
*
Ministry of Justice (法務省, Hōmu shō)
*
Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...
(外務省, Gaimu shō)
*
Ministry of Finance (財務省, Zaimu shō)
*
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
The , also known as MEXT or Monka-shō, is one of the eleven Ministries of Japan that composes part of the executive branch of the Government of Japan. Its goal is to improve the development of Japan in relation with the international community ...
(文部科学省, Monbu kagaku shō)
*
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省, Kōsei rōdō 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 Economy, Trade and Industry (経済産業省, Keizai sangyō shō)
*
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (国土交通省, Kokudo kōtsū shō)
*
Ministry of the Environment (環境省, Kankyō shō)
*
Ministry of Defense (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
Reconstruction Agency
The is an agency of the 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
According to "Role of the Re ...
was established in the aim of recovery from
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The occurred at 14:46 JST (05:46 UTC) on 11 March. The magnitude 9.0–9.1 (M) undersea megathrust earthquake had an epicenter in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Oshika Peninsula of the Tōhoku region, and lasted approximately six minutes ...
.
*In 2021, the
Digital Agency
The is an agency of the Japanese government established on September 1, 2021, aimed at strengthening digitalization in Japan.
The slogan is “Government as a Startup”.
Overview
Even before the Digital Agency establishment bill was passed, th ...
was established in the aim to promote
e-government and
digital transformation
Digital transformation is the adoption of digital technology by an organization to digitize non-digital products, services or operations. The goal for its implementation is to increase value through innovation, invention, customer experience or ef ...
.
List of Ministers of State
*
Prime Minister (内閣総理大臣)
*
Deputy Prime Minister (副総理)
*
Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications (総務大臣)
*
Minister of Justice (法務大臣)
*
Minister for Foreign Affairs (外務大臣)
*
Minister of Finance (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 Japa ...
(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 (経済産業大臣)
*
Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (国土交通大臣)
*
Minister of the Environment (環境大臣)
*
Minister of Defense
A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...
(防衛大臣)
*
Chief Cabinet Secretary
The is a member of the cabinet and is the leader and chief executive of the Cabinet Secretariat of Japan. The Chief Cabinet Secretary coordinates the policies of ministries and agencies in the executive branch, and also serves as the government ...
(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 memb ...
(国家公安委員会委員長)
*
Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs
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- 沖縄及び北方対策)
*
Minister of State for Gender Equality
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: 男女共同参画)
*
(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 (内閣府特命担当大臣- 防災)
*
Minister of State for National Emergency Legislation
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- 有事法制担当)
*
Minister of State for Financial 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- 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 governme ...
(内閣府特命担当大臣- 経済財政政策)
*
Minister of State for Privatization of the Postal Services
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- 郵政民営化担当)
*
Minister of State for Regulatory Reform
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- 規制改革)
*
(内閣府特命担当大臣- 産業再生機構)
*
Minister of State for Administrative Reform
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- 行政改革担当)
*
Minister of State for Special Zones for Structural Reform
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- 構造改革特区)
*
Minister of State for Regional Revitalization
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- 地域再生担当)
*
Minister of State for Science and Technology 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- 科学技術政策)
*
Minister of State for Food Safety
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- 食品安全)
*
Minister of State for Information Technology
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- 情報通信技術（IT）担当)
References
{{Ministries of Japan
Government of Japan
*