Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi's sleep‑deprived schedule fuels debate

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted on X on 20 July, a national holiday (Marine Day), saying she had slept only five hours that day and that since taking office she typically gets between zero and three hours of sleep. She detailed a weekend of reading policy documents, handling thousands of emails and even doing household chores such as laundry, ironing and sewing. The post attracted more than 30 million views and sparked criticism from opposition politicians, who warned that chronic sleep deprivation could impair judgment, especially as the yen hits a 40‑year low. Party leaders, including Tamaki Yūichirō of the Democratic Party for the People and other lawmakers, called for more rest, describing it as part of the job. Polls indicated the government's approval rating falling to around 40 percent. The episode has reignited broader discussions in Japan about over‑work culture and the need for better support for senior officials.

Quotes: “Per la prima volta dopo tanto tempo ho dormito 5 ore. Lo standard, da quando sono diventata primo ministro, è tra 0 e 3 ore.” (Italian source). “다카이치 총리가 ‘취임 뒤 0~3시간 수면이 일상화됐다’고 자신의 엑스에 올린 글에 대한 논란이 확대되고 있다.” (Korean source).