Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became on Sunday the third-longest-serving Japanese leader in the postwar era, with 1,981 days in office, surpassing the tenure of Junichiro Koizumi, who was in office between 2001 and 2006.

The figure combines Abe's first stint in power from 2006 to 2007, when he abruptly stepped down due to ill health, with his second term, which began in December 2012.

The law sets no limit on how long prime ministers can serve, and by convention they are typically leaders of their own parties.