The current chairperson is Tomoko Tamura, who took office on 10 January 2024.

The chairperson is elected by the Central Committee of the Japanese Communist Party, which also elects other members of the executive committee including the vice-chairpersons, and the head of the secretariat.

The original leadership position of the party was the General Affairs Chief Secretary.

The party was outlawed by the Japanese government in 1923, and was not refounded until 1945 after the end of World War 2, and political reforms under the American Occupation rule.

When the party was reformed, the leadership title was changed to General Secretary.