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SCMP’s Asia desk

Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, secured her party’s nomination by vowing to “work like a horse”. Since taking office on October 21, she has kept her word – but her relentless workload is raising questions about her health.
Takaichi arrived at her office at 3am on Friday to prepare for her first parliamentary debate, a budget committee hearing that was due to convene at 9am. Even by Japan’s workaholic standards, such an early start raised eyebrows.
“My jaw dropped when I heard it was 3am,” an official told Fuji News Network, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Takaichi’s predawn start prompted some lawmakers to express concern during the committee session, according to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.
I can hardly get any sleep
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi
“I imagine some staff members worked through the night drafting responses,” said Takahiro Kuroiwa of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party.
Takaichi, who had been staying at one of the Diet’s dormitory facilities in central Tokyo, responded that the dorm building she was staying in only had an old fax machine, creating logistical headaches.
When Kuroiwa asked why she had not relocated to the prime minister’s official residence instead, Takaichi said she would move once things “settle down”.
“Right now, not only do I not have time to pack … I can hardly get any sleep.”

She added that she planned to move “as soon as possible”, but first needed to finalise her schedule for the G20 summit in South Africa, set to be held from November 22 to 23.
Beyond questions of precedent, the prime minister’s health was also a source of concern. During the session, ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Ken Saito urged his party leader to “slack off skilfully when you can”.
“You say you will ‘work, work and work’, but honestly, I am a little worried,” he said, as quoted by the Asahi Shimbun.
Katsuhito Nakajima of the Constitutional Democratic Party also urged her to get enough rest. Takaichi simply responded with a nod and a smile.
As her administration advocates easing caps on maximum working hours, Takaichi’s predawn start has drawn criticism for setting a dangerous example of overwork – or even karoshi (death from overwork).

Kazuyu Shimba, secretary general of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, rebuked her for disregarding her staff’s well-being. “If the prime minister starts at 3am, staff must start from 1.30am or 2am,” he said, as quoted by the Chosun Daily. “People cannot endure that physically.”
Government spokesman Minoru Kihara defended the need for “meticulous preparation” to ensure accurate answers to questions and “smooth parliamentary deliberations”.
“The prime minister does not deny the concept of work-life balance itself,” the chief cabinet secretary said. “It is important to promote work-life balance so that diverse talents can work with peace of mind. We are taking necessary measures.”
‘Work, work and work’
In a speech on October 4, shortly after defeating four male rivals to win the LDP leadership, Takaichi declared that she would “throw away the phrase ‘work-life balance’.”
“I will work, work and work,” she said – and make LDP members “work like workhorses”.
Her comments were largely welcomed by working women, according to the Mainichi newspaper.
In a survey conducted four days later by Women Type, a career support website, 53 per cent of women aged 20 to 49 viewed Takaichi’s remarks positively.
Among the 29 per cent who disapproved, most worried that the prime minister’s remarks would encourage companies to ignore work-life balance.


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Japan PM’s 3am start sparks ‘work, work, work’ concerns: ‘honestly, I’m a little worried’

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a budget committee session in parliament on Friday. Photo: Kyodo

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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited Yasukuni Shrine before becoming leader. Photo: Kyodo

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Karoshi crisis: why are Japanese working themselves to death?

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Public transport, Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo, Japon VOISIN/PHANIE

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A man is getting off work in Ginza, Tokyo, March 2016. Un homme sort du travail à Ginza, Tokyo, Mars 2016.

Commuters cross an intersection in downtown Tokyo Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005. Japan's population declined by 19,000 in 2005, the government said in an annual report Tuesday. The survey by the Statistics Bureau came after an announcement by the government last week that Japan's population had declined for the first time on record in 2005. Japan's population fell to an estimated 127,757,000 as of Oct. 1 this year, down 19,000 from 127,776,000 from a year earlier, according to census results released by the statistics bureau of the Internal Affairs Ministry. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara)

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Before taking office, Sanae Takaichi vowed to ‘work like a horse’ and discard the idea of having a work-life balance. She wasn’t joking


Before taking office, Sanae Takaichi vowed to ‘work like a horse’ and discard the idea of having a work-life balance. She wasn’t joking.


Sanae Takaichi

Tokyo

Offbeat

Japan PM’s 3am start sparks ‘work, work, work’ concerns: ‘honestly, I’m a little worried’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Before taking office, Sanae Takaichi vowed to ‘work like a horse’ and discard the idea of having a work-life balance. She wasn’t joking

Before taking office, Sanae Takaichi vowed to ‘work like a horse’ and discard the idea of having a work-life balance. She wasn’t joking