| Cabinet Name: | Obuchi Cabinet |
| Cabinet Number: | 84th |
| Jurisdiction: | Japan |
| Flag: | Flag of Japan.svg |
| Flag Border: | true |
| Date Formed: | July 30, 1998 |
| Date Dissolved: | April 5, 2000 |
| Government Head: | Keizō Obuchi |
| State Head: | Emperor Akihito |
| Political Party: | LDP (1998-99) LDP-LP (1999) LDP-LP-NKP (1999-2000) LDP-NCP-NKP (2000) |
| Legislature Status: | HR majority, HC minority government (Twisted Diet) (1998-99) Majority coalition (1999-2000) |
| Opposition Party: | Democratic Party of Japan |
| Opposition Leader: | Naoto Kan (1998-99) Yukio Hatoyama (1999-2000) |
| Predecessor: | Second Hashimoto Cabinet |
| Successor: | First Mori Cabinet |
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.[1] 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.[2] [3]
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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6]
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.[7] [8] [9]
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.[10]
| 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) | |||
| 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) | |||
| 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) | |||
R = Member of the House of Representatives
C = Member of the House of Councillors
| Prime Minister | R | July 30, 1998 - April 5, 2000 | |||
| R | July 30, 1998 - March 8, 1999 | ||||
| R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| Minister of Finance | R | July 30, 1998 - April 26, 2001 | |||
| C | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| Minister of Health and Welfare | R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries | R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| R | July 30, 1998 - January 14, 1999 | ||||
| R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| R | July 30, 1998 - January 14, 1999 | ||||
| R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| Director of the Management and Coordination Agency | R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| Director of the Hokkaido Development Agency Director of the Okinawa Development Agency | C | July 30, 1998 - January 14, 1999 | |||
| R | July 30, 1998 - November 21, 1998 | ||||
| R | November 21, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| Director of the Economic Planning Agency | - | July 30, 1998 - December 5, 2000 | |||
| Director of the Science and Technology Agency | C | July 30, 1998 - January 14, 1999 | |||
| Director of the Environment Agency | C | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| Director of the National Land Agency | R | July 30, 1998 - October 23, 1998 | |||
| C | October 23, 1998 - January 14, 1999 | ||||
| Minister of State for Financial Reconstruction | R | October 23, 1998 - December 15, 1998 | |||
| Chairman of the Financial Reconstruction Commission | December 15, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| Deputy Secretaries | |||||
| Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Representatives) | R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Councillors) | C | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Bureaucrat) | - | February 24, 1995 - September 22, 2003 | |||
| Prime Minister | R | July 30, 1998 - April 5, 2000 | |||
| R | July 30, 1998 - March 8, 1999 | ||||
| C | March 8, 1999 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| Minister of Finance | R | July 30, 1998 - April 26, 2001 | |||
| Minister of Education Director of the Science and Technology Agency | C | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| Minister of Health and Welfare | R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries | R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| Minister of Transport Director of the Hokkaido Development Agency | R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| Minister of Construction Director of the National Land Agency | R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| R | January 14, 1999 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| Chief Cabinet Secretary Director of the Okinawa Development Agency | R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| Director of the Management and Coordination Agency | R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| R | November 21, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | ||||
| Director of the Economic Planning Agency | - | July 30, 1998 - December 5, 2000 | |||
| Director of the Environment Agency | C | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| Chairman of the Financial Reconstruction Commission | R | December 15, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| Deputy Secretaries | |||||
| Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Representatives) | R | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Councillors) | C | July 30, 1998 - October 5, 1999 | |||
| Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Bureaucrat) | - | February 24, 1995 - September 22, 2003 | |||
| Prime Minister | R | July 30, 1998 - April 5, 2000 | |||
| R | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | ||||
| R | October 5, 1999 - April 26, 2001 | ||||
| Minister of Finance | R | July 30, 1998 - April 26, 2001 | |||
| Minister of Education Director of the Science and Technology Agency | C | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | |||
| Minister of Health and Welfare | R | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | |||
| Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries | R | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | |||
| R | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | ||||
| Minister of Transport Director of the Hokkaido Development Agency | R | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | |||
| R | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | ||||
| R | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | ||||
| Minister of Construction Director of the National Land Agency | R | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | |||
| R | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | ||||
| Chief Cabinet Secretary Director of the Okinawa Development Agency | C | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | |||
| Chairman of the Financial Reconstruction Commission | R | October 5, 1999 - February 25, 2000 | |||
| R | February 25, 2000 - July 4, 2000 | ||||
| Director of the Management and Coordination Agency | C | October 5, 1999 - December 5, 2000 | |||
| R | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | ||||
| Director of the Economic Planning Agency | - | July 30, 1998 - December 5, 2000 | |||
| Director of the Environment Agency | C | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | |||
| Deputy Secretaries | |||||
| Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Representatives) | R | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | |||
| Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Political Affairs - House of Councillors) | C | October 5, 1999 - July 4, 2000 | |||
| Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Bureaucrat) | - | February 24, 1995 - September 22, 2003 | |||
Lists of Ministers at the Kantei: