November 12th, 2025 - Japan’s Prime Minister Faces Backlash After Holding a 3 A.M. Meeting

Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has long been known for her intense work ethic, often skipping social events and openly rejecting the idea of work-life balance. Still, many in Japan were stunned when she left her Tokyo residence shortly after 3 a.m. to hold a meeting with aides before appearing in Parliament. The meeting, quickly labeled the “3 a.m. study session” by Japanese media, sparked controversy in a country where concerns about overwork and karoshi, or “death from overwork,” remain deeply sensitive.

Critics argued that the meeting demonstrated unhealthy expectations and put needless pressure on her staff. Yoshihiko Noda, a former prime minister and leader of the main opposition party, called the decision “crazy,” saying he never began work before 6 or 7 a.m. and insisting that leaders should not drag subordinates into such extreme schedules. He described Ms. Takaichi’s behavior as “a sad attitude for the top leader of the country to show,” emphasizing that most people are still asleep at that hour.

Ms. Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister last month, has tried to clarify what happened. She said her home fax machine jammed — a reminder of Japan’s continued reliance on fax communication — leaving her unable to review documents for a 9 a.m. budget session at the Diet. Because she has not yet moved into the official residence, she went there in the early morning to read through briefing materials. She acknowledged that the timing “caused inconvenience” for her staff but insisted it was necessary to rewrite responses for Parliament.

Her supporters pushed back against the criticism. Members of her Liberal Democratic Party said the real issue was that opposition lawmakers submitted questions too late, forcing her office to scramble. Some business leaders defended her work habits, arguing that demanding round-the-clock work is not unusual for people in high-responsibility roles like emergency responders or military personnel. One executive asked why a prime minister should be held to a different standard, especially if she is working tirelessly for the country.

The debate comes as Japan considers loosening its limits on overtime — a proposal Ms. Takaichi supports in principle. Current laws were created after tragic cases of extreme overwork, including a young advertising employee who died by suicide after logging more than 100 hours of overtime a month. Ms. Takaichi argues that overtime income is important for many workers but stresses that it must not endanger their health. She warned that strict caps on overtime could push people into unsafe side jobs to make ends meet.

Work has always been central to Ms. Takaichi’s political identity. During her campaign, she declared she would “work and work and work and work” once in office, renouncing work-life balance entirely. Families of karoshi victims criticized her remarks as harmful and irresponsible. Since taking office just weeks ago, her packed schedule has included hosting President Trump in Tokyo and traveling to Malaysia and South Korea for diplomatic meetings.

Some former officials sympathize with the demands on her time but say a 3 a.m. meeting goes too far. Shigeaki Koga, a former economic official, suggested that even leaders under pressure should avoid setting such extreme expectations for staff. He said modern leaders may never get perfect rest, but they should still avoid burdening others unnecessarily. “The prime minister can’t relax,” he said, “but the best thing is to work hard in secret.”

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Abide (verb, uh-BYDE) - If someone cannot abide someone or something bad, unpleasant, etc., they cannot tolerate or accept that person or thing. Abide can also mean "to accept without objection" and "to remain or continue."

Example: I just can't abide such blatant dishonesty.

Image credit: Unsplash