Japan is notorious for long workdays, and even has a term – karoshi – for working yourself to death.
In recent years, the country's government has taken steps to limit overtime work, with a cap of 45 hours per month under normal circumstances, with the possibility of 100 hours during busy periods.
This was partly after a survey that showed that one in five employees was at risk of dying prematurely due to working too hard.
Now that may change, after Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi opened up about raising the limit on overtime work to encourage growth.
Meeting in the middle of the night
Some people choose to work two jobs to make ends meet. At the same time, companies are imposing limits on overtime, she said earlier in November when questioned in parliament.
Takaichi also emphasized that any changes will be made with the health of employees in mind.
In early November, the new prime minister called his staff to the office at three in the morning, to prepare for a hearing that would begin six hours later.
The three o'clock meeting was criticized, among others, by opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda, who was also prime minister from 2011 to 2012. Noda said in an interview that the decision was "crazy" and that "it's okay if she wants to work, but she shouldn't drag other people in," according to The New York Times.
Loaded question
When Takaichi was elected party leader of the Liberal Democrats earlier this fall, she said that work-life balance was not that important to her.
For my part, I will ignore work-life balance. I will work, work, work, work, and work.
The prime minister's sleeping and working habits have sparked debate in Japan, where the issue of working conditions is a fraught one.
"I sleep about two hours, at most four," she said in parliament.
It's probably bad for my skin.
Born in 1961 in Nara in western Japan.
In her youth, she played drums in a heavy metal band and was known for always carrying several drumsticks with her because she hit hard and the sticks often broke.
Reportedly had a great interest in cars. One of her previous cars, a Toyota Supra, is on display at a museum in her hometown of Nara.
Before entering politics, she worked for a short time as a television presenter.
She ran in her first parliamentary election in 1992 as an independent candidate, but lost.
A year later, she was elected and joined the LDP in 1996.
Takaichi has held high government positions, including as Minister of Economic Security and as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications.
In 2021, she ran for the LDP leadership for the first time but lost to Fumio Kishida. She tried again in 2024 but lost to Shigeru Ishiba.
This year, for the third time in a row, she was finally elected party leader.
On October 20, Japan's ruling LDP and the smaller right-wing Nippon Ishin party signed a coalition agreement that paved the way for Sanae Takaichi as prime minister.
One of Sanae Takaichi's idols is Margaret Thatcher. "My goal is to become the Iron Lady," she told a group of schoolchildren during a campaign.
Source: BBC, Reuters
