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Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi is a big talking point this week after admitting she sleeps just 0-3 hours a night and going over the details of her exact state of sleep publicly, as a sign of dedication. The reaction was immediate and harsh, with millions of people reading the post, critics deeming it dangerous, and Japan’s work culture once again in the spotlight of the nation’s ongoing identity debate. In a country still plagued by karo-shi (death from overwork), the moment was most opportune.
Quick Facts
| Topic | Detail |
| Who | It’s Japan’s first-ever female prime minister, PM Sanae Takaichi. |
| What | She revealed she has only slept 0–3 hours a night since she was elected |
| When | This is a new module for the upcoming Marine Day. |
| Why It Matters | There were a record number of work-related illness/death claims in Japan for the 4th consecutive year. |
| Karoshi Deaths (FY2025) | 145 officially recognised deaths or suicides from overwork |
| Total Approved Cases | A total of 1,310 claims for work-related illness and death were approved in fiscal 2025. |
| Japan’s Response | Opposition legislators, physicians and the general public objected stridently. |
| Tokyo’s Countermovement | Japan’s 4-day workweek for government workers is implemented in Tokyo. |
A Holiday Post That Hit a Raw Nerve
The update was shared by Takaichi at a national holiday in Japan where most people take a boat ride to the beach or turn off the TV for the first time this year: Marine Day. She said that she “finally got five hours sleep,” which was “a blessing I don’t get very often.” Since she became PM last October:
It was her way of demonstrating her dedication. Instead, it became an issue.
Within hours, the post had garnered tens of millions of views. National emergencies are an issue that’s very concerning with someone who’s sleep-deprived, according to opposition lawmakers, who warned that this is the same effect as alcohol. One politician said pointedly, “resting is also a job” when you lead a country of 125 million.”
The Deeper Problem: Japan Work Culture and the Karoshi Crisis
It’s not like Takaichi’s post came out of nowhere. It fell into a country that has been dealing with employee burnout among Japanese employees for decades at the institutional level.
The relationship between Japan and overwork is so extreme that it created its own terminology: “karoshi” – a direct translation from Japanese that means “death from overwork.”
It became a common term as employees started dying of heart attacks, strokes and from work-related suicides, all because of working long hours and being subjected to constant pressure. Labour reform efforts by the government have been underway for years, but overwork in Japan has not significantly reduced.
The government data, made public only weeks before Takaichi’s post, revealed the bad news: Japan had reached a new record in work-related deaths and sick absences – four years in a row. Only in fiscal year 2025 were there 1,310 cases approved, of which 145 resulted in fatalities or suicides officially attributed to long working hours in Japan.
The PM’s “sleep is a luxury” slant was highly contentious because of that context.
Takaichi’s Work Style: Extreme, and Not New
It’s not the first time PM Takaichi’s style of work ethic in Japan has gotten people’s attention. Soon after becoming president, she made an open pledge to give up making any efforts toward work-life balance and to just take the job. Earlier in the year, it was leaked that the staff had been summoned around 3 a.m. for a meeting, a point which drew comparisons with the same culture shift that the reformers seek to obliterate.
A country’s leader whose policies are meant to move it forward is a live manifestation of the behavior that has cost Japanese workers their quality of life and well-being.
Comparison: Old Japanese Work Culture and Reform Movement
| Area | Traditional Japanese Work Culture | Reform-Driven Approach |
| Working Hours | 60–80+ hours/week normalised | Overtime limits imposed by law. |
| Sleep | Given as an elective to those who are committed to the task. | Medically recommended: 7–9 hours/night |
| Leave | Frequently not taken (social stigma) | Leave of absence for employees will be mandatory in certain companies. |
| Workweek | 5–6 days standard | Civil Servants in Tokyo to work 4-day week. |
| Overwork Deaths | For decades, this aspect of the climate emergency has been overlooked. | Karoshi is a legal term since the 1980s. |
| Remote Work | Almost non-existent pre-2020 | Growing adoption post-pandemic |
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Reform Efforts Are Real — But So Is the Resistance
Tokyo is putting a 4-day work week for a lot of government workers in place, with the clear-cut objectives of lowering stress on the job and improving work-life balance, and helping the drop in the country’s birth rate. Businesses in various industries are testing cuts in schedules, “go home” days, and flexible work-from-home options.
All of this is scientifically proven. An adult requires 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night. Anything below that is always associated with diminished intelligence, higher risk of heart disease, depression and, importantly to someone in high office, poor decision-making. The facts were publicised in the public debate that ensued after Takaichi’s post.
But the Japanese cultural force of office culture is still strong, where there is an expectation of showing one’s face, working hard and dedication. Whether or not this is meant to be a message, a leader sleeping three hours and posting about it as devotion sends a message that undermines years of messages of reform.
FAQs
What did PM Sanae Takaichi say about her sleep?
She shared on Marine Day that she’s finally managed five hours of sleep, noting that she typically gets anywhere from zero to three hours of sleep a night since taking office as prime minister in October 2025.
Why was it a controversial choice?
Workers’ activists protested that it was the same Japanese culture of killing workers that had been there for decades. Experts said it might have clouded her judgment, and a recent case of karo-haro has become a viral post as Japan had its fourth consecutive record year of such claims.
What is karoshi?
Karoshi translates to “death from overwork. It means that deaths – mostly from heart disease, stroke and suicide – are directly attributable to overworking and work stress. This number was officially confirmed by 145 deaths in FY2025.
Is Japan doing anything to fix its work culture?
Yes — the government is calling for a four-day workweek for government employees, businesses are offering mandatory leave and remote work options, and the overtime limits for legal working hours have been reduced. However, the concept of working hours in Japan is undergoing gradual changes in the culture and according to the figures, it’s still a fragile improvement.
