Japan PM faces backlash for starting meeting at 3am

Japan's newly minted prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, recently came under fire for a "3am study session" with close aides before a parliamentary appearance on Nov. 7.

According to NHK World, she was preparing for her first Lower House budget committee meeting since taking office. 

The New York Times reported that Takaichi is known as an "inveterate workhorse" who often skips social gatherings and has openly rejected the idea of work-life balance.

However, even for her standards, it came as a shock when she emerged from her Tokyo home shortly after 3am.

The meeting lasted about three hours before Takaichi relocated to the Prime Minister's Office shortly after 6:30am.

Many argued that the meeting would feed into unhealthy expectations and long working hours.

This issue is particularly sensitive in Japan, where there have been multiple high-profile cases of karoshi, or "death from overwork".

'I sleep about two hours now'

Takaichi has previously stated that she only gets a maximum of four hours of sleep a day, reported The Japan Times.

“I sleep about two hours now, four hours at the longest. I feel it’s bad for my skin”

She told this to the legislative committee, where she had been asked about the importance of reducing Japan's notoriously long work hours.

Many workers in Japanese offices face heavy pressure to engage in overtime work.

Takaichi was also asked to explain her government's discussions about possibly extending the upper limit on overtime work in order to encourage economic growth.

She defended the discussion, saying that workers and employers have different needs, such as working two jobs to make ends meet, while businesses impose stricter limits on overtime.

Takaichi stressed that any change would ensure that workers' health would be protected.

"Indeed, if we can create a situation where people can properly balance childcare and caregiving responsibilities according to their wishes, and also being able to work, enjoy leisure time, and relax — that would be ideal."

Politicians weigh in

In the Diet debate, Japan's Former Economic Minister Saito Ken once stated that he was worried for Takaichi and that she should relax a little, reported NHK World. 

"I think it's a little too much hard work. Although the prime minister declared that she will 'work and work and work,' I am honestly worried. I hope she is able to do the job while taking it a bit easier."

Budget committee sessions are carried out in a one-on-one, question-and-answer format.

Past prime ministers are also known to have begun their preparations from the early morning but starting at 3am is nearly unprecedented.

The Straits Times reported that Yoshihiko Noda, a former prime minister now leading the main opposition party, called Takaichi's decision "crazy". 

Noda stated that when he led the country from 2011 to 2012, he would start work at around 6am or 7am.

“It’s fine for her to work, but she should not be getting other people involved. Everyone is in bed at that time of day. It’s a very sad attitude for the top leader of the country to show.”

Takaichi has since clarified the circumstances of the meeting.

She said that her fax machine at home was jammed.

Faxes are still a mainstay of Japanese communication.

Hence, as she had not yet moved into the prime minister’s residence, she decided to head there ahead of time to review briefing materials ahead of a 9am budget meeting at the Diet. 

She has acknowledged that her early-morning preparation had “caused inconvenience” to her staff.

Started working from home

Following intense criticism, Takaichi has begun working from home to prepare for Diet deliberations according to The Japan News.

She has started working remotely when preparing for Diet deliberations held on consecutive days.

She now studies documents herself at home in the House of Representatives members’ official residence in Akasaka, Tokyo, only calling her aides if necessary. 

The remote work has proved effective, as Takaichi entered the Prime Minister’s Office around 7:50am on Nov. 12 ahead of the day’s budget committee meeting.

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Top photo from PM Office of Japan.