A 24-Hour Working Style
Since becoming prime minister late last year, Takaichi has attracted attention for her intense working schedule. She is known for spending significant amounts of time reviewing documents and working independently from her residence.
Her working habits have also raised concerns about her health and workload.
In July, Takaichi revealed on X that she typically sleeps only “zero to three” hours a night, highlighting just how demanding her schedule can be.
Rather than always traveling to the Prime Minister’s Office, she has increasingly used the official residence as a place to hold meetings, review government documents and continue working outside her formal schedule.
Why Work from the Official Residence?
According to Takaichi, working from the residence has a practical advantage: it allows her to continue working for long hours without requiring government staff to remain at the office late into the night.
For a prime minister, official duties can extend well beyond normal working hours. Meetings, policy discussions, document reviews and urgent government matters can take place at almost any time.
By working from her residence, Takaichi appears to be trying to balance her demanding schedule with the workload of the people supporting her.
What Does This Say About Japan’s Leadership?
Takaichi’s working style has sparked discussion about the expectations placed on Japan’s political leaders.
Japan is often associated with a strong work culture, and long working hours have historically been an important topic in discussions about productivity, workplace culture and work-life balance.
At the same time, the prime minister's position is unique. Major national decisions, international affairs and government policies can require attention at any hour.
Takaichi’s comments therefore offer an interesting look at how Japan’s current leadership operates behind the scenes—not only through official meetings and public appearances, but also through hours of work conducted privately at the official residence.
For International Observers
For people outside Japan, the story is also a reminder that the role of Japan’s prime minister involves much more than attending public events and parliamentary sessions.
A significant amount of the work happens behind the scenes: reading reports, reviewing policy documents, meeting officials and preparing for important decisions.
Takaichi’s decision to use the official residence as a workplace reflects one way of managing those responsibilities while attempting to reduce the burden on her staff.
Source: The Japan Times
