Official name

Japan

Form of government

Representative democracy

The executive

The prime minister is chosen by a ballot of the Diet (parliament) and appoints a cabinet, the majority of whose members must also be members of the Diet

Head of state

Emperor Akihito

National legislature

Bicameral Diet, comprising the 480-member House of Representatives (the lower house), elected every four years, and the 242-member House of Councillors (the upper house), elected for six-year terms, one-half of its number being elected every three years. There are 300 single-seat constituencies and 180 seats filled by proportional representation in the lower house

Legal system

A Supreme Court, appointed by the cabinet, presides over a legal system of lesser courts divided into four arms: the High Court, district courts, family courts and summary courts

National elections

An election for the lower house took place in August 2009; the next is due by August 2013. The most recent election for the upper house was held in July 2010; the next is due in July 2013

National government

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) holds 306 seats in the lower house; the DPJ's coalition partner, the People's New Party (PNP), holds four seats; and the largest opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), holds 117 seats

Main political organisations

Government: coalition of the DPJ and the PNP

Opposition: LDP; Komeito; Japan Communist Party; the Social Democratic Party; Your Party; the Sunrise Party of Japan

Main members of the cabinet

Prime minister: Naoto Kan

Chief cabinet secretary: Yukio Edano

Key ministers

Agriculture, forestry & fisheries: Michihiko Kano

Defence: Toshimi Kitazawa

Economy, trade & industry: Banri Kaieda

Education, culture, sports, science & technology: Yoshiaki Takaki

Environment: Ryu Matsumoto

Finance: Yoshihiko Noda

Foreign affairs: Seiji Maehara

Health, labour & welfare: Ritsuo Hosokawa

Internal affairs & communications: Yoshihiro Katayama

Justice: Satsuki Eda

Land, infrastructure & transport: Akihiro Ohata

State ministers

Economic & fiscal policy; reform of social security & tax: Kaoru Yosano

Financial services; postal reform: Shozaburo Jimi

Government revitalisation: Renho

National policy: Koichiro Gemba

Public safety; consumer affairs; civil service reform: Kansei Nakano

Central bank governor

Masaaki Shirakawa