Despite Tokyo's push for a 4-day week, Japan’s prime minister sleeps just ‘zero to three’ hours

Key Points:

• Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi revealed she finally got a full five hours of sleep for the first time in ages, highlighting her grueling schedule of zero-to-three hours of sleep since taking office in October 2025.
• Takaichi embraces long working hours as a point of pride, often working from early morning until late at night and even handling household chores herself due to the lack of domestic staff at the prime minister’s residence.
• Critics warn that Takaichi’s chronic sleep deprivation could impair judgment and pose risks to national crisis management, with experts recommending adults get seven to nine hours of sleep for optimal health and performance.
• The prime minister’s intense work ethic contrasts with Japan’s broader efforts to promote work-life balance, including Tokyo’s recent implementation of a four-day workweek aimed at reducing burnout and supporting family life.
• This debate reflects shifting cultural attitudes, especially among younger workers, with a majority of Gen Z prioritizing work-life balance over pay when choosing employers, signaling a move away from traditional marathon work hours.