The Obuchi cabinet governed Japan from July 1998 to April 2000 under the leadership of Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi, who took office after winning the Liberal Democratic Party leadership. Initially a continued LDP single-party government without legislative majority in parliament on its own after the 1998 election, it expanded to become a coalition involving first the Liberal Party and then the New Komeito over the course of its term. The government focused on economic revival, with former Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa recalled to the position of Finance Minister, and introduced policies designed to stimulate the economy through tax cuts and public spending increases.
Obuchi reshuffled his cabinet twice, firstly in January 1999 after having negotiated a coalition agreement with the Liberal Party. This did not bring about any major change in personnel other than to bring Liberal Takeshi Noda into government as Home Minister, and reduce the number of ministers by doubling up portfolios. The second reshuffle in October 1999 was a more substantial reconstruction, and took place following Obuchi's re-election as LDP president. At the same time, the coalition expanded again to include the New Komeito, beginning the long-running LDP-NKP partnership. The coalition continued until April 2000 when Liberal Leader Ichirō Ozawa decided to withdraw from the arrangement, causing a section of the Liberal Party to break away and form the New Conservative Party, which remained in the government.
The Obuchi cabinet ended in early April 2000 when Obuchi fell into a coma after suffering a serious, and ultimately fatal stroke. With the Prime Minister unable to discharge his duties, Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki served as Acting Prime Minister for several days, until the cabinet determined to resign and Yoshirō Mori was chosen to replace Obuchi.
Election of the prime minister Obuchi's election demonstrated how the Diet was divided following the 1998 upper house election. In the House of Representatives, Obuchi was elected on the first ballot, however the first ballot in the House of Councillors did not produce a majority for any candidate. In the subsequent runoff vote, opposition leader Naoto Kan won with the support of all opposition parties allied against the LDP. This did not affect Obuchi's appointment as Prime Minister, as the constitution stipulates that in such a scenario, the will of the lower house prevails. + 30 July 1998 House of Representatives Absolute majority (251/500) required Choice First Vote Votes Keizō Obuchi Naoto Kan Others and Abstentions (Including Speaker and Deputy) Source Diet Minutes - 143rd Session (Representatives) + 30 July 1998 House of Councillors Absolute majority (127/252) required Choice First Vote Votes Keizō Obuchi Naoto Kan Others and Abstentions (Including Speaker and Deputy) Source Diet Minutes - 143rd Session (Councillors) + 30 July 1998 House of Councillors Simple majority required Choice Runoff Vote Votes Naoto Kan Keizō Obuchi Others and Abstentions (Including Speaker and Deputy) Source Diet Minutes - 143rd Session (Both houses)
Ministers
R = Member of the House of Representatives C = Member of the House of Councillors
Cabinet + Cabinet of Keizō Obuchi from July 30, 1998, to January 14, 1999 Portfolio Minister Term of Office Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi R July 30, 1998 - April 5, 2000 Minister of Justice Shozaburo Nakamura R July 30, 1998 - March 8, 1999 Minister of Foreign Affairs Masahiko Kōmura R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Finance Kiichi Miyazawa R July 30, 1998 - April 26, 2001 Minister of Education Akito Arima C July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Health and Welfare Sohei Miyashita R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shōichi Nakagawa R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of International Trade and Industry Kaoru Yosano R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Transport Jirō Kawasaki R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Seiko Noda R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Labour Akira Amari R July 30, 1998 - January 14, 1999 Minister of Construction Katsutsugu Sekiya R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Home Affairs Director of the National Public Safety Commission Mamoru Nishida R July 30, 1998 - January 14, 1999 Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Director of the Management and Coordination Agency Seiichi Ota R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Director of the Hokkaido Development Agency Director of the Okinawa Development Agency Kichio Inoue C July 30, 1998 - January 14, 1999Director of the Japan Defense Agency Fukushiro Nukaga R July 30, 1998 - November 21, 1998 Hosei Norota R November 21, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Director of the Economic Planning Agency Taichi Sakaiya - July 30, 1998 - December 5, 2000 Director of the Science and Technology Agency Yutaka Takeyama C July 30, 1998 - January 14, 1999 Director of the Environment Agency Kenji Manabe C July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Director of the National Land Agency Hakuo Yanagisawa R July 30, 1998 - October 23, 1998 Kichio Inoue C October 23, 1998 - January 14, 1999 Minister of State for Financial Reconstruction Hakuo Yanagisawa R October 23, 1998 - December 15, 1998 Chairman of the Financial Reconstruction Commission December 15, 1998 - October 5, 1999Deputy Secretaries Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Representatives) Muneo Suzuki R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Councillors) Mitsuhiro Uesugi C July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Bureaucrat) Teijiro Furukawa - February 24, 1995 - September 22, 2003
Changes October 23 - Hakuo Yanagisawa the Director of the National Land Agency was moved to become the Minister of State for Financial Reconstruction (which later became the Chairman of the Financial Reconstruction Commission) and was replaced with Yoshio Inoue, who doubled up as Hokkaido and Okinawa development minister. November 21 - Fukushiro Nukaga resigned as Defence Minister due to a corruption scandal, he was replaced with Hosei Norota.
First reshuffled cabinet
+ Cabinet of Keizō Obuchi from January 14, 1999, to October 5, 1999 Portfolio Minister Term of Office Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi R July 30, 1998 - April 5, 2000 Minister of Justice Shozaburo Nakamura R July 30, 1998 - March 8, 1999 Takao Jinnouchi C March 8, 1999 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Foreign Affairs Masahiko Kōmura R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Finance Kiichi Miyazawa R July 30, 1998 - April 26, 2001 Minister of Education Director of the Science and Technology Agency Akito Arima C July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Health and Welfare Sohei Miyashita R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shōichi Nakagawa R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of International Trade and Industry Kaoru Yosano R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Transport Director of the Hokkaido Development Agency Jirō Kawasaki R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Seiko Noda R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Labour Akira Amari R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Construction Director of the National Land Agency Katsutsugu Sekiya R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Minister of Home Affairs Director of the National Public Safety Commission Takeshi Noda R January 14, 1999 - October 5, 1999 Chief Cabinet Secretary Director of the Okinawa Development Agency Hiromu Nonaka R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Director of the Management and Coordination Agency Seiichi Ota R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Director of the Japan Defense Agency Hosei Norota R November 21, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Director of the Economic Planning Agency Taichi Sakaiya - July 30, 1998 - December 5, 2000 Director of the Environment Agency Kenji Manabe C July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Chairman of the Financial Reconstruction Commission Hakuo Yanagisawa R December 15, 1998 - October 5, 1999Deputy Secretaries Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Representatives) Muneo Suzuki R July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Councillors) Mitsuhiro Uesugi C July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Bureaucrat) Teijiro Furukawa - February 24, 1995 - September 22, 2003
Changes March 8, 1999 - Minister of Justice Shozaburo Nakamura resigned over a controversy relating to actor Arnold Schwarzenegger being allowed to enter Japan without a passport, and was replaced by Takao Jinnouchi.
Second reshuffled cabinet
+ Cabinet of Keizō Obuchi from October 5, 1999, to April 5, 2000 Portfolio Minister Term of Office Prime Minister Keizō Obuchi R July 30, 1998 - April 5, 2000 Minister of Justice Hideo Usui R October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 Minister of Foreign Affairs Yōhei Kōno R October 5, 1999 - April 26, 2001 Minister of Finance Kiichi Miyazawa R July 30, 1998 - April 26, 2001 Minister of Education Director of the Science and Technology Agency Hirofumi Nakasone C October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 Minister of Health and Welfare Yuya Niwa R October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tokuichiro Tamazawa R October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 Minister of International Trade and Industry Takashi Fukaya R October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 Minister of Transport Director of the Hokkaido Development Agency Toshihiro Nikai R October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Eita Yashiro R October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 Minister of Labour Takamori Makino R October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 Minister of Construction Director of the National Land Agency Masaaki Nakayama R October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 Minister of Home Affairs Director of the National Public Safety Commission Kosuke Hori R October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 Chief Cabinet Secretary Director of the Okinawa Development Agency Mikio Aoki C October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 Chairman of the Financial Reconstruction Commission Michio Ochi R October 5, 1999 - February 25, 2000 Sadakazu Tanigaki R February 25, 2000 - July 4, 2000 Director of the Management and Coordination Agency Kunihiro Tsuzuki C October 5, 1999 - December 5, 2000 Director of the Japan Defense Agency Tsutomu Kawara R October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 Director of the Economic Planning Agency Taichi Sakaiya - July 30, 1998 - December 5, 2000 Director of the Environment Agency Kayoko Shimizu C October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000Deputy Secretaries Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Representatives) Fukushiro Nukaga R October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Councillors) Soichiro Matsutani C October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Bureaucrat) Teijiro Furukawa - February 24, 1995 - September 22, 2003
Changes February 25, 2000 - Chairman of the Financial Reconstruction Commission Michio Ochi resigned following controversial comments he made related to regulation and inspection of banks. He was replaced by Sadakazu Tanigaki. April 1, 2000 - Coalition negotiations between the Liberal Party and the LDP broke down leading to the party pulling out of the coalition. This caused a split, with some Liberals wishing to remain in government. April 2, 2000 - Prime Minister Obuchi suffered a debilitating stroke and fell into a coma. Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki assumed his duties as Acting Prime Minister until April 5 when LDP Secretary-general Yoshiro Mori was appointed as replacement Prime Minister. Obuchi died on May 14. April 3, 2000 - The dissident Liberals launched the New Conservative Party under the leadership of Chikage Oogi, and remained in government under that banner, including Transport Minister Toshihiro Nikai.