After Calling A 3 AM Meeting, Japan PM Says She Prefers Just 2-4 Hours Of Sleep

Japanese newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says she gets only two to four hours of sleep a night, even as she faces rising criticism for encouraging an overwork culture.

Her remarks came shortly after she held a staff meeting at 3 am to prepare for a parliamentary session, a move that drew renewed attention to her work habits and leadership approach.

"I sleep about two hours now, four at most. It’s not great for my skin,” she told a legislative committee when questioned about Japan’s long working hours and the need for reform, according to AFP.

Japan has long dealt with severe work pressure and poor work-life balance, with the term karoshi, or “death by overwork,” becoming widely known.

Lawmakers also challenged her on why the government is considering raising the legal overtime cap to support economic growth. Takaichi argued that workers’ situations differ, noting that some juggle multiple jobs while companies enforce strict overtime limits.

“Any change will still protect workers’ health,” she said, according to AFP. “Ideally, people should be able to manage childcare, caregiving, work, free time, and rest in a way that suits them."

Japan's First Female Prime Minister

On 21 October 2025, Takaichi became the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of Japan, and the first female president of the Liberal Democratic Party. Before entering full-time politics, she worked as a legislative aide, broadcaster and author.

Takaichi is broadly regarded as a conservative or ultra-conservative figure. She has openly embraced a philosophy of relentless effort.

After taking over the Liberal Democratic Party, she said she would “throw out the idea of work-life balance” for herself and simply “work, work, work, work, and work.”

Since then, her schedule has been packed with regional travel and meetings with leaders including US President Donald Trump, China’s President Xi Jinping, and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.