Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has come under fire for enforcing late-night work hours on her staff, an issue that has intensified amid growing concerns about overwork in Japan. The controversy arose during a budget committee meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday, where the prime minister’s directive to attend a 3 a.m. meeting was criticized by various stakeholders. The decision has reignited debates on work-life balance in a country where the so-called ‘death from overwork’ remains a pressing concern.
Japan has long faced challenges related to excessive working hours, with numerous cases of employees suffering from severe health issues due to prolonged work schedules. The recent incident has sparked renewed calls for stricter regulations on labor practices, with critics arguing that the government’s own leadership is not setting a positive example. While the prime minister’s office has defended the decision as necessary for national priorities, the backlash highlights a growing disconnect between policy and public sentiment.
The backlash against Prime Minister Takaichi’s late-night work directive has also raised questions about the role of political leadership in shaping labor norms. As Japan continues to wrestle with the legacy of overwork, this incident underscores the country’s ongoing struggle to balance productivity with the well-being of its workforce. The situation is likely to fuel further discussions on workplace culture, especially as Japan faces increasing pressure to modernize its labor practices in a rapidly evolving global economy.