Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said she sleeps between zero and three hours a night, prompting public reaction and renewed debate about Japan’s demanding work culture. Her comments matter because they highlight concerns over whether extreme working habits are being normalised by political leaders.

Takaichi disclosed her sleeping pattern in a post on X, according to the BBC’s Tokyo correspondent Kurumi Mori. The response has focused on work-life balance in Japan, where long hours and insufficient rest have long been contentious issues.