Japanese PM's sleep revelation sparks concern

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has ignited national concern following her revelation of a minimal sleep schedule since assuming office, often subsisting on "zero to three hours" per night. In a social media post detailing her public holiday weekend, Takaichi mentioned achieving "five full hours of sleep for the first time in ages," highlighting the extreme nature of her typical rest deprivation.

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five full hours of sleep for the first time in ages

Takaichi described how her weekdays are consumed by essential personal routines like bathing, dining, and laundry, leaving little time for rest. Late-night hours are dedicated to reviewing documents from the Prime Minister's Office and preparing for question time, frequently extending until dawn. Even her remaining free time is occupied by domestic chores such as ironing and mending clothes.

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On weekdays, by the time I get back to the residence, I'm maxed out on private time just handling bath cleaning, bathing, dinner, washing up afterward, laundry, and some light tidying. So the late-night hours after that get consumed until dawn with reading materials brought back from the Prime Minister's Office or prepping for … question time.

This stark admission has startled Japanese citizens and prompted a national discussion on the hazards of insufficient sleep for top leaders. Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, questioned why Takaichi's entourage does not provide better support to ensure she can make decisions with a clear mind. However, some colleagues, like deputy foreign affairs minister Ayano Kunimitsu, defended Takaichi, urging understanding for the "various circumstances and behind-the-scenes stories" involved in fulfilling public duties.

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I think she should rest more. Why doesn't her entourage provide more support to create an environment in which she can make important decisions with a fresh mind?

The prime minister's sleep habits underscore Japan's deeply ingrained culture of long working hours, where "salarymen" commonly work up to 12 hours daily. This demanding environment has led to the term "karoshi," or "death by overwork," with hundreds dying annually from overwork-related illnesses or suicide. Experts like Bruno van Swinderen from the Queensland Brain Institute warn that such severe sleep deprivation would leave Takaichi feeling "miserable" and impair crucial brain functions like repair and cognitive processing, essential for effective leadership.

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Each person has their own various circumstances and behind-the-scenes stories, and on the premise of fulfilling responsibilities in public duties, I would be grateful if you could understand.