Leaders of 20 Richest Countries: 2012
Heads of state and government controlling the world's major economies during this period.
Leadership Timeline: Japan
| Period | Leader | Political Party | Selection Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 — 1954 | Shigeru Yoshida Prime Minister | Liberal | Elected |
| 1954 — 1956 | Ichirō Hatoyama Prime Minister | Democratic | Elected |
| 1956 — 1957 | Tanzan Ishibashi Prime Minister | LDP | Appointed |
| 1957 — 1960 | Nobusuke Kishi Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |
| 1960 — 1964 | Hayato Ikeda Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |
| 1964 — 1972 | Eisaku Satō Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |
| 1972 — 1974 | Kakuei Tanaka Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |
| 1974 — 1976 | Takeo Miki Prime Minister | LDP | Appointed |
| 1976 — 1978 | Takeo Fukuda Prime Minister | LDP | Appointed |
| 1978 — 1980 | Masayoshi Ōhira Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |
| 1980 — 1982 | Zenkō Suzuki Prime Minister | LDP | Appointed |
| 1982 — 1987 | Yasuhiro Nakasone Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |
| 1987 — 1989 | Noboru Takeshita Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |
| 1989 — 1989 | Sōsuke Uno Prime Minister | LDP | Appointed |
| 1989 — 1991 | Toshiki Kaifu Prime Minister | LDP | Appointed |
| 1991 — 1993 | Kiichi Miyazawa Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |
| 1993 — 1994 | Morihiro Hosokawa Prime Minister | Japan New Party | Elected |
| 1994 — 1994 | Tsutomu Hata Prime Minister | Renewal Party | Appointed |
| 1994 — 1996 | Tomiichi Murayama Prime Minister | Socialist | Appointed |
| 1996 — 1998 | Ryutaro Hashimoto Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |
| 1998 — 2000 | Keizō Obuchi Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |
| 2000 — 2001 | Yoshirō Mori Prime Minister | LDP | Appointed |
| 2001 — 2006 | Junichiro Koizumi Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |
| 2006 — 2007 | Shinzo Abe Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |
| 2007 — 2008 | Yasuo Fukuda Prime Minister | LDP | Appointed |
| 2008 — 2009 | Taro Aso Prime Minister | LDP | Appointed |
| 2009 — 2010 | Yukio Hatoyama Prime Minister | DPJ | Elected |
| 2010 — 2011 | Naoto Kan Prime Minister | DPJ | Appointed |
| 2011 — 2012 | Yoshihiko Noda Prime Minister | DPJ | Appointed |
| 2012 — 2020 | Shinzo Abe Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |
| 2020 — 2021 | Yoshihide Suga Prime Minister | LDP | Appointed |
| 2021 — 2024 | Fumio Kishida Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |
| 2024 — Present | Shigeru Ishiba Prime Minister | LDP | Elected |