Second premiership of Shinzo Abe

Shinzo Abe's second tenure as prime minister of Japan began on 26 December 2012 when he was officially appointed prime minister by Emperor Akihito in a ceremony at the Tokyo Imperial Palace, succeeding Yoshihiko Noda of the Democratic Party of Japan. This was Abe's second tenure as prime minister, following his first premiership from 2006 to 2007.

Following the resignation of Liberal Democratic Party president Sadakazu Tanigaki, Abe was re-elected as president of the party on 26 September 2012. Abe subsequently led the LDP to a landslide victory in the 2012 general election, ending four years of Democratic Party governance. Abe attempted to counter Japan's economic stagnation with "Abenomics", targeting escaping deflation. He led the LDP to a victory in the 2013 upper house election. He oversaw reforms to strengthen the authority of the prime minister, including the creation of a National Security Council, as well as the passage of a State Secrecy Law. He called a snap election in 2014, which he billed as a referendum on his economic policy; the LDP retained its majority in the election. In 2015, he passed the Legislation for Peace and Security which allowed deployment of the Japan Self-Defense Forces overseas in certain strict conditions, which was controversial and met with protests. He was credited with reinstating the Trans-Pacific Partnership with a new agreement in 2018. Abe led the LDP to a victory in the 2017 election, becoming Japan's longest-serving prime minister.

In foreign policy, Abe pursued strengthening Japan's alliance with the United States. He also saw closer ties with India and Australia, though relations with South Korea suffered under his tenure, especially after the start of the Japan–South Korea trade dispute in 2019. Abe took a strong stance against North Korea, especially regarding the country's abductions of Japanese citizens. Though initially facing deteriorating ties with China, relations between the two countries improved during the later parts of Abe's tenure. In 2020, Abe oversaw Japan's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2020, he again resigned, citing a relapse of his illness, and was succeeded by Yoshihide Suga.