Shinzo Abe: Japan’s longest-serving prime minister --------------------------------------------------- Achievements to date include a landmark trade deal with the EU and winning the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but his ambition to reform Japan’s 1947 pacifist constitution remains elusive --------------------------------------------------- Ito Hirobumi Japan’s first prime minister – appointed in 1885 following Meiji Restoration --------------------------------------------------- Eisaku Sato Longest uninterrupted term in office. Great uncle of Abe --------------------------------------------------- Taro Katsura Longest-serving PM prior to Abe, with total of 2,886 days in office --------------------------------------------------- Nov 20: Abe surpasses Katsura as longest- serving prime minister --------------------------------------------------- DAYS IN OFFICE Shinzo Abe 2006-2007, 2012-present 2,887 Taro Katsura Three terms between 1901 and 1913 2,886 Eisaku Sato 1964-1972 2,798 Ito Hirobumi Four terms between 1885 and 1901 2,720 Shigeru Yoshida Two terms between 1946 and 1954 2,616 Junichiro Koizumi 2001-2006 1,980 Yasuhiro Nakasone 1982-1987 1,806 Hayato Ikeda 1960-1964 1,575 Saionji Kinmochi 1906-08, 1911-12 1,531 Nobusuke Kishi 1957-1960 1,266 --------------------------------------------------- Tenure as Liberal Democratic Party president expires Sep 30, 2021 – if still in office term will total 3,567 days --------------------------------------------------- Pictures: Newscom, Getty Images, Prime Minister’s Office of Japan, National Diet Library Sources: Nippon.com, Financial Times, Encyclopaedia Britannica © GRAPHIC NEWS