# Japan's PM sleeps just 3 hours a night amid 4-day workweek push Prime Minister's sleepless routine sparks debate as Tokyo promotes shorter workweeks. - **Source:** [Fortune](https://fortune.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-23 - **Topic:** [Leadership](https://brifing.si/c/leadership) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/1274f7c0-5f4e-43f5-86bc-9bff3525135e ## PM's sleep-deprived regimen Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi revealed she only sleeps 0-3 hours daily since taking office. Calling 5 hours of sleep on holidays a 'luxury,' Takaichi views this as a badge of honor. Working from dawn to midnight, she spends weekends buried in legislative documents at the official residence, which lacks domestic staff. ## Health risks and criticism Experts warn chronic sleep deprivation impairs judgment similarly to alcohol intoxication, potentially endangering national crisis management. A lawmaker countered that 'resting is also work,' while The New York Times framed this as emblematic of Japan's toxic overwork culture. Takaichi previously faced backlash for 3 a.m. meetings. ## Japan's karoshi crisis After high-profile death-by-overwork cases, flexible policies like Tokyo's 4-day workweek pilot have gained traction. Plummeting birth rates and rising burnout made work-life balance a national priority. Governor Koike emphasized creating systems where 'both genders can choose suitable work styles.' ## Gen Z's shifting priorities 74% of Japanese Gen Z rank work-life balance above salary, per Randstad's 2025 report. Microsoft Japan's 2019 trial showed 40% productivity gains with 4-day weeks. This generational shift challenges traditional norms in a country still known for extreme work hours. ## Cultural contradiction The PM's vow to 'discard work-life balance' contradicts government policies promoting flexibility. Japan remains torn between its famed work ethic and modern demands for sustainable practices, maintaining its status among nations with longest work hours globally. ## Leadership sustainability Takaichi's glorification of sleep deprivation sets an unsustainable leadership example. Sleep foundations recommend 7+ hours for adults over 65. Japan faces the dual challenge of preserving cultural values while adopting humane work norms—a balancing act its leader seemingly rejects. ## Sources covering this story - https://fortune.com/2026/07/23/japan-prime-minister-sanae-takaichi-little-sleep-no-work-life-balance-as-tokyo-embraces-four-day-workweeks/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._