Masakazu Sekiguchi Hiroyuki Nagahama Yukihiko Imasaki Kazuo Ueda

If the Cabinet collectively resigns, it continues to exercise its functions until the appointment of a new prime minister.

Some of its powers are nominally exercised by the Emperor with the binding "advice and approval" of the Cabinet.

Contrary to the practice in many constitutional monarchies, the Emperor is not even the nominal chief executive.

Under the Constitution, the prime minister exercises "control and supervision" over the executive branch, and no law or Cabinet order can take effect without the prime minister's countersignature (and the emperor's promulgation).