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Minister of Defense (Japan)
Japanese cabinet role
Japanese cabinet role
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| post | Minister |
| body | Defense |
| native_name | 防衛大臣 |
| flag | Standard of the Minister of Defence of Japan.svg |
| flagcaption | Standard of the Minister of Defense |
| image | Shinjirō Koizumi 202511.jpg |
| imagecaption | Official MOD portrait, 2025 |
| incumbent | Shinjirō Koizumi |
| incumbentsince | |
| department | Ministry of Defense |
| style | His Excellency |
| member_of | Cabinet |
| National Security Council | |
| Defense Council | |
| reports_to | The Prime Minister |
| appointer | The Prime Minister |
| appointer_qualified | subject to formal attestation by the Emperor |
| precursor | Director General of the Defense Agency |
| formation | |
| first | Fumio Kyuma |
| deputy | State Minister of Defense |
| salary | ¥20,916,000 |
National Security Council Defense Council
The Minister of Defense, or Bōei-shō, is a member of the Japanese cabinet and is the leader of the Ministry of Defense, the executive department of the Japanese Armed Forces. The minister of defense's position of command and authority over the military is second only to that of the Prime Minister of Japan, who is the commander-in-chief.
The minister of defense is appointed by the Prime Minister and is a member of the National Security Council. The current Minister of Defense is Shinjirō Koizumi, who took office on October 21, 2025.
History
On 26 December 2007, the Government of Japan made the decision to reform its Defense Agency to the Ministry of Defense in the expectation to have a far-reaching effect on Japan's future military development. The defense policy that has been pursued by Japan is based on the "Basic Policy for National Defense", which was adopted by the Cabinet in May 1957. Japan's main goal of national defense is the prevention of indirect as well as direct aggression from outside enemies.
The Japanese government reformed the Defense Agency to the Ministry of Defense with a ceremony that was attended by then Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and the then-new Minister of Defense Fumio Kyuma. The creation of the Ministry of Defense was in conjunction with Prime Minister Shinzō Abe's continued efforts to ensure a stronger image of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). The bill in which to upgrade the Defense Agency to the Ministry of Defense was approved by the House of Representatives (lower house) in November 2006, and the House of Councillors (upper house) in mid-December 2006. Minister Kyuma personally attended a session in the House of Councillors and gave a speech after the bill was approved.
On 11 September 2019, Taro Kono became the first high profile 'prime minister-ready' politician to head the Ministry of Defense. He has the strongest LDP factional backing of any defense minister thus far. His social media following is second only to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He's a leading candidate for post-Abe premiership. Kono previously held the prominent role of foreign minister.
Chain of command
-
- Prime Minister
-
- Minister of Defense
-
- Chief of Staff, Joint Staff
Structure
The Commander-in-Chief of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), who does not formally constitute a uniformed military, is the Prime Minister. The Emperor of Japan is a constitutional monarch who does not have political or military authority over the JSDF; that authority rests with the Prime Minister. However, it is important to note that the Emperor formally appoints the Prime Minister to office. The Minister of Defense is responsible for the organization and formulating the national security policy. The budget request is drafted by the Ministry of Finance and making its own legislative proposals to the National Diet.
The Minister of Defense is advised on every concern related to the duties of the Japan Self-Defense Forces by the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff.
List of ministers of defense (2007–present)
| Minister of Defense | Term of office | Prime Minister | # | Portrait | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" rowspan=3 | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" rowspan=2 | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Democratic Party of Japan}}" | Democratic Party of Japan}}" | Democratic Party of Japan}}" | Democratic Party of Japan}}" rowspan=3 | Democratic Party of Japan}}" | Independent}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" rowspan=8 | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [[File:Fumio Kyuma 1997.jpg | 100px]] | Fumio Kyuma | January 9, 2007 | July 4, 2007 | Shinzō Abe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | [[File:Yuriko Koike 201608 (cropped).jpg | 133x133px]] | Yuriko Koike | July 4, 2007 | August 27, 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | [[File:Masahiko Komura 1996.jpg | 100px]] | Masahiko Kōmura | August 27, 2007 | September 26, 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | [[File:Shigeru Ishiba 2008.jpg | 100px]] | Shigeru Ishiba | September 26, 2007 | August 2, 2008 | Yasuo Fukuda | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | [[File:Yoshimasa Hayashi 2009.jpg | 100px]] | Yoshimasa Hayashi | August 2, 2008 | September 24, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | [[File:Yasukazu Hamada 2003.jpg | 100px]] | Yasukazu Hamada | September 24, 2008 | September 16, 2009 | Taro Aso | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Democratic Party of Japan}}" | [[File:Toshimi Kitazawa 20090918.jpg | 100px]] | Toshimi Kitazawa | September 16, 2009 | September 2, 2011 | Yukio Hatoyama | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Naoto Kan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | [[File:Yasuo Ichikawa 20110902.jpg | 100px]] | Yasuo Ichikawa | September 2, 2011 | January 13, 2012 | Yoshihiko Noda | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | [[File:Naoki Tanaka 2001.jpg | 100px]] | Naoki Tanaka | January 13, 2012 | June 4, 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | [[File:Satoshi Morimoto Official.jpg | 100px]] | Satoshi Morimoto | June 4, 2012 | December 26, 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | [[File:Itsunori Onodera 20121226.jpg | 100px]] | Itsunori Onodera | December 26, 2012 | September 3, 2014 | Shinzō Abe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | [[File:Akinori Eto Bouei.jpg | 100px]] | Akinori Eto | September 3, 2014 | December 24, 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | [[File:Gen Nakatani 20141226.jpg | 100px]] | Gen Nakatani | December 24, 2014 | August 3, 2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | [[File:Tomomi Inada 20121226 (cropped).jpg | 100px]] | Tomomi Inada | August 3, 2016 | July 28, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | [[File:Fumio Kishida 20160202 (cropped).jpg | 133x133px]] | Fumio Kishida * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Acting)* | July 28, 2017 | August 3, 2017 | ** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (11) | [[File:Itsunori Onodera 20170803 2.jpg | 100px]] | Itsunori Onodera | August 3, 2017 | October 2, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | [[File:Takeshi Iwaya 20180629.jpg | 100px]] | Takeshi Iwaya | October 2, 2018 | September 11, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | [[File:Tarō Kōno 20190912 (cropped).jpg | 120x120px]] | Taro Kono | September 11, 2019 | September 16, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | [[File:Nobuo Kishi 20141116.jpg | 100px]] | Nobuo Kishi | September 16, 2020 | August 10, 2022 | Yoshihide Suga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fumio Kishida | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (6) | [[File:Yasukazu Hamada 20220810.jpg | 100px]] | Yasukazu Hamada | August 10, 2022 | September 13, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | [[File:Minoru Kihara 20190906.jpg | 129x129px]] | Minoru Kihara | September 13, 2023 | October 1, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (13) | [[File:Gen Nakatani 20241003.jpg | 129x129px]] | Gen Nakatani | October 1, 2024 | October 21, 2025 | Shigeru Ishiba | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | [[File:Shinjirō Koizumi Ministry of Defence portrait (cropped).jpg | 132x132px]] | Shinjirō Koizumi | October 21, 2025 | Incumbent | Sanae Takaichi |
Allied occupation of Japan
Following the end of World War II, the Armed Forces of the Empire of Japan were disbanded and US forces took control. From 1950 to 1952, the National Police Reserve led by Minister of State Takeo Ōhashi was formed. It was renamed as the National Safety Force in 1952. In 1952, the Coastal Safety Force, the waterborne counterpart of the National Police Reserve, was founded and led by the Commissioner of the Coastal Safety Force Tokutarō Kimura.
Directors general of the Defense Agency
These are the directors general of the Defense Agency. It is the predecessor of the Ministry of Defense which was established on 9 January 2007.
- Tokutarō Kimura 1954
- Seiichi Ōmura 1954-1955
- Arata Sugihara 1955
- Shigemasa Sunada 1955
- Funada Naka 1955-1956
- Tanzan Ishibashi 1956-1957
- Nobusuke Kishi 1957
- Akira Kodaki 1957
- Juichi Tsushima 1957-1958
- Gisen Satō 1958-1959
- Shigejirō Inō 1959
- Munenori Akagi 1959-1960
- Masumi Esaki 1960
- Naomi Nishimura 1960
- Sensuke Fujieda 1961-1962
- Kenjirō Shiga 1962-1963
- Fukuda Tokuyasu 1963-1964
- Jun'ya Koizumi 1964-1965
- Raizo Matsuno 1965-1966
- Eikichi Kanbayashiyama 1966
- Kaneshichi Masuda 1966-1968
- Kiichi Arita 1968-1970
- Yasuhiro Nakasone 1970-1971
- Keiichi Masuhara 1971
- Naomi Nishimura 1971
- Ezaki Masumi 1971-1972
- Keiichi Masuhara 1972-1973
- Yamanaka Yasunori 1973-1974
- Sōsuke Uno 1974
- Michita Sakata 1974-1976
- Asao Mihara 1976-1977
- Shin Kanemaru 1977-1978
- Ganri Yamashita 1978-1979
- Enji Kubota 1979-1980
- Yoshizo Hosoda 1980
- Koji Omura 1980-1981
- Soichiro Ito 1981-1982
- Kazuho Tanigawa 1982-1983
- Kurihara Yoshiyuki 1983-1984
- Koichi Kato 1984-1986
- Kurihara Yoshiyuki 1986-1987
- Tsutomu Kawara 1987-1988
- Kichirō Tazawa 1988-1989
- Taku Yamasaki 1989
- Jūrō Matsumoto 1989-1990
- Yozo Ishikawa 1990
- Yukihiko Ikeda 1990-1991
- Sohei Miyashita 1991-1992
- Toshio Nakayama 1992-1993
- Nakanishi Keisuke 1993
- Kazuo Aichi 1993-1994
- Atsushi Kanda 1994
- Tokuichiro Tamazawa 1994-1995
- Seishirō Etō 1995-1996
- Hideo Usui 1996
- Fumio Kyūma 1996-1998
- Fukushiro Nukaga 1998
- Hosei Norota 1998-1999
- Riki Kawara 1999-2000
- Kazuo Torashima 2000
- Toshitsugu Saito 2000-2001
- Gen Nakatani 2001-2002
- Shigeru Ishiba 2002-2004
- Yoshinori Ohno 2004-2005
- Fukushiro Nukaga 2005-2006
- Fumio Kyūma 2006-2007
Ministers with military experience
Although Article 68 of the Constitution states that all members of the Cabinet must be civilians, former military persons may be appointed Minister of Defense.
- Raizo Matsuno - served in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II and rose to rank of Lieutenant commander
- Yasuhiro Nakasone - served in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II and rose to rank of Lieutenant commander and worked as Paymaster
- Sōsuke Uno - served in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II and rose to rank of Second Lieutenant
- Soichiro Ito - served in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II and rose to rank of Second Lieutenant
- Shin Kanemaru - served briefly in the Kwantung Army as Sergeant in 1937-1938 and was discharged due to illness
- Satoshi Morimoto - served in Japan Air Self-Defense Force and rose to rank as Major
- Gen Nakatani - served in Japan Ground Self-Defense Force as platoon leader and instructor with rank of Lieutenant
References
- "Library of Congress Country Studies", JAPAN, The Defense Agency. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+jp0280). Retrieved 18 July 2010.
fr:Ministère japonais de la Défense
References
- (2006-12-15). "Japan creates defense ministry". [[BBC]].
- "Archived copy".
- "Special Feature {{!}} JDF - Japan Defense Focus (No. 4) {{pipe}} Japan Ministry of Defense".
- Macarthur Bosack, Michael. (2019-10-17). "Taro Kono: A different kind of defense minister". News2u Holdings, Inc..
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