Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has revealed that she sleeps only between two and four hours each night — even as she faces mounting criticism for promoting an intense work culture in a country already struggling with overwork-related health issues.
Takaichi’s revelation came during a parliamentary committee session after lawmakers questioned her about Japan’s notoriously long working hours.
“I sleep about two hours now — four hours at the longest,” Takaichi admitted with a wry smile. “It’s bad for my skin.”
The comment followed public outcry last week after the prime minister reportedly convened a 3:00 a.m. staff meeting to prepare for a parliamentary session — a move many saw as emblematic of Japan’s entrenched overwork culture.
Japan has long grappled with the challenge of work-life balance, and even has a word, “karoshi,” meaning death from overwork.
During the same session, Takaichi was pressed to clarify her government’s consideration of loosening restrictions on overtime work as part of efforts to boost economic growth.
Defending the debate, she said that Japan’s diverse workforce includes people with varying needs — from those juggling multiple jobs to employers struggling with productivity limits.
“Workers and employers have different circumstances,” she explained. “Some people take on two jobs to make ends meet, while some companies must impose overtime limits. Any change we consider will ensure that workers’ health remains fully protected.”
The prime minister emphasized her broader vision of a society where citizens can work productively while still enjoying personal and family time.
“Ideally, people should be able to balance childcare, caregiving, work, and leisure in a way that suits their lives,” she said.
Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister last month after winning the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race, has made headlines for her relentless energy and unapologetic work ethic.
Upon taking office, she famously declared that she would “discard the term ‘work-life balance’” for herself, vowing instead to “work, work, work, work, and work.”
Since assuming office, she has maintained a demanding schedule — attending regional summits and holding bilateral meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.
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