Sleeping Less Than 3 Hours Daily Is Normal, Says Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takagi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takagi recently disclosed the grueling nature of her official duties through a personal social media post. The nation's first female prime minister revealed that throughout July, nearly every weekend and holiday was spent from dawn to late night reviewing thick policy documents and battling through towering piles of official paperwork.

She admitted that in order to scrutinize core policies related to national economic and fiscal direction, she has long suffered from severe sleep deprivation. Since taking office, sleeping between 0 to 3 hours per day has become her norm—a testament to the overwhelming workload of the position.

Reflecting on the recent July 18–19 holiday weekend, Takagi said she spent both days carefully reviewing draft policy documents. She continued working through the backlog of thousands of official emails, only falling asleep in the early morning hours of July 20.

The prime minister noted that such extremely short sleep durations have become her daily reality since assuming leadership of the cabinet, as she constantly races against time amid an avalanche of administrative tasks.

On the final day of Japan’s recent three-day holiday (July 20), Takagi finally had a brief respite. She joked that she had 'rarely slept a full five hours' and finally gained precious personal time in the afternoon. Freed temporarily from documents and legislation, she used the rare break to catch up on long-overdue household chores—ironing accumulated laundry and even mending clothes.

Her post, widely reported by Japanese media, sparked significant discussion online. Many citizens expressed concern for her health, while others—particularly her political critics—shared comparison charts, accusing her of performing for sympathy.

The revelation has intensified debates about leadership burnout, gender expectations in politics, and Japan’s entrenched workaholic culture. While some praise her dedication, others question the sustainability of such a schedule and whether it reflects inefficient governance rather than commitment.