Minister of Defense (Japan)

The Minister of Defense (防衛大臣, Bōei Daijin), or Bōei-shō (防衛相), is a member of the Japanese cabinet and is the leader of the Ministry of Defense, the executive department of the Japanese Armed Forces. The minister of defense's position of command and authority over the military is second only to that of the Prime Minister of Japan, who is the commander-in-chief.