tokyo – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi โฃrevealed she routinely sleeps only โtwo to โfour hours per night, speaking at a legislative commitee meeting amid growing public โขdebate โover her governance’s stance on work culture.
Takaichi’s admission followed recent criticism sparked by a 3:00 AM staff meeting she โconvened in preparation for a parliamentary session. “I sleep for โขabout two hours now, the โฃmaximum is four hours. I think this is bad for my skin,” she stated when questioned about reducing long working hours in Japan, according to Theโฃ Straits Times.
Japan has historically grappled with intense work โฃdemands, a phenomenon linked to karoshi – death by โคoverwork.โ
During the committee meeting, Takaichi also addressed government considerations regarding adjustments to overtime โคlimitsโ to bolster economic growth, acknowledging differing needs between workers and companies. She noted some individuals hold โmultiple jobs to supplement income, โwhile others faceโ strictโข overtime restrictionsโค imposed by employers. Takaichi โstressed any changes would prioritize occupational health.
“Ideally,โฃ everyoneโ can balance caring for children, working, โenjoying free time and resting,”โข she explained.
Takaichi,Japan’s โfirst female prime minister,assumed office in October 2025. Upon election โas head of the Liberal โDemocratic Party, โshe pledged to abandon theโข concept of “work-life balance” in favor of maximizing work effort. Since takingโ office, she hasโค maintained a โdemanding schedule, including regional visits and bilateralโ meetings with United States President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi โjinping, and South koreanโ President Lee Jae Myung.
