In Japan, Prime Minister's Sleep Schedule Prompts Work-Life Balance Debate

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends the joint meeting of the committees of both houses on fundamental national policies at the National Diet in Tokyo on July 15, 2026. —Yuichi Yamazaki—AFP/Getty ImagesFor Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a day off means more work.As the country enjoyed a three-day weekend to celebrate the Marine Day national holiday, Takaichi said that she spent the weekend poring over policy documents and catching up on domestic work.“I was able to get five hours of sleep for the first time in a while,” Takaichi posted on X on Monday night, noting that she was able to do ironing and sewing she’d put off. “Since taking office, getting zero to three hours of sleep has become the norm.”“I can work hard again from tomorrow!” she added.It’s not the first time that Takaichi has projected an image as a tireless worker. When Takaichi was elected president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in October, she proudly announced, “I will abandon the phrase ‘work-life balance.’ I will work, work, work, work and keep on working.” She also called on LDP members to “work like workhorses.”In November, she told an Upper House Budget Committee session that she typ...