# Japan’s Prime Minister’s Sleep Habits Spark Debate Prime Minister Takaichi’s minimal sleep routine reignites criticism of work culture. - **Source:** [Fortune | FORTUNE](https://brifing.si/source/769282ef-327a-4454-909a-3c7936216004) - **Published:** 2026-07-23 - **Topic:** [Career Growth](https://brifing.si/c/growth) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/b512627e-a857-4d2a-b11d-ca23176e1eff ## Prime Minister Takaichi’s Sleep Habits Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi revealed she sleeps only zero to three hours a day, sparking widespread debate on social media. Takaichi views this habit as a point of pride and continues to maintain an intense work schedule. ## Criticism of Work Hours Takaichi’s extreme work habits have drawn criticism. Experts warn that chronic sleep deprivation impairs decision-making and poses risks to national crisis management. This has heightened concerns about Japan’s work culture. ## Japan’s Four-Day Workweek In recent years, Japan has implemented flexible systems like the four-day workweek to improve work-life balance. This policy is gaining popularity among younger workers and aims to boost productivity. ## Takaichi’s Work Style Since taking office, Prime Minister Takaichi has maintained a grueling work schedule, even spending weekends on paperwork and household chores. This reflects Japan’s traditional work culture. ## Young Workers’ Expectations Young workers in Japan prioritize work-life balance over salary. According to Randstad’s 2025 report, 74% of Gen Z considers this balance a top priority, signaling a need for cultural change. ## Shifting Work Culture Japan’s work culture is shaped by both Takaichi’s extreme work habits and flexible systems like the four-day workweek. This duality will play a crucial role in shaping the country’s future work policies. ## 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._