Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's social media post about getting zero to three hours of sleep has sparked debate over Japan's work culture, as her cabinet's approval rating fell to a new low.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted on X on Monday that zero to three hours of sleep has become the norm since taking office last October. She said she spends nights reviewing documents until dawn while handling household chores, but managed five hours of sleep over the three-day weekend amid thousands of emails.
Opposition figures Yuichiro Tamaki and Toru Kunishige raised concerns that sleep shortage could impair judgment and pose risks to national crisis management. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Takaichi has no intention of rejecting work-life balance, while policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi urged her to get rest.
A Kyodo News poll released Sunday showed her cabinet approval at 53.7 percent, down 2.1 points and the lowest since October. The drop follows passage of the revised Imperial House Law on July 17 and other bills with limited debate. Parliament adjourned Saturday, and Takaichi is set to face questioning at the Lower House Budget Committee.
