TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks about the additional domestic responsibilities she manages as a woman have reignited a national conversation about gender roles in Japan and placed renewed scrutiny on her leadership.
Speaking during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, Takaichi said her workdays run longer than those of her male predecessors because she must handle household duties and personal grooming. “In the morning, I take a bath, prepare breakfast, wash the dishes, and apply makeup,” she explained. “These tasks add roughly three or four more hours to my day compared with male prime ministers.”
Takaichi added that her aides initially needed time to adjust to the extra preparation she requires to appear presentable before cameras.
Her comments quickly drew backlash, with many critics arguing that she was reinforcing outdated gender expectations and normalizing excessive work hours—longstanding concerns in Japanese society.
In Japan, where traditional gender roles remain deeply entrenched, working women frequently shoulder a disproportionate share of housework and childcare. Government figures show that women spend nearly five hours per day on household chores, while the average man devotes only about 40 minutes.
Social media users noted that many working Japanese women who care for children or aging parents face even heavier demands. Critics described Takaichi’s remarks as a time-management issue and an outdated view on gender equality.
“Provided she performs her duties, it is acceptable if she needs more time than her male counterparts,” said lawyer Fusako Miwa on social media. “However, using the need to apply makeup as an excuse and asking for forgiveness is unacceptable.”
Takaichi’s revelation that she sometimes gets zero to three hours of sleep per night, balancing homemaking duties with a heavy workload since taking office last year, further fueled concerns that she is setting a poor example for work-life balance and gender equity.
Although she remains active on X, Takaichi has reduced her parliamentary appearances and spends most evenings and weekends at her official residence—a pattern critics have characterized as disengagement from policy debate.
The prime minister also suffered a political setback on Wednesday when newly appointed Agriculture Minister Kazuo Yana resigned amid multiple scandals. Yana was accused of boasting about cutting road-construction funding for municipalities that did not support him electorally and admitted arranging questionable free transportation for supporters at his political rallies.
Fumitake Fujita, a senior official in Takaichi’s junior coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, raised her schedule on Wednesday, suggesting that lengthy daily parliamentary sessions be reduced.
Fujita noted that Japan’s prime minister attended 72 parliamentary sessions in 2022, compared with 50 in Britain and 13 in Germany, citing a recent report by political think tank NXJI Research.
The report proposed introducing cooks and other housekeeping staff at the prime minister’s official residence so the leader can concentrate on official duties and get sufficient sleep.
Takaichi acknowledged that managing her busy schedule has been difficult, and she routinely brings home a thick stack of documents. “I do enjoy reading them late at night,” she said. “Honestly, I feel it is not easy to squeeze out time to sit down and think about the future direction of Japan or have a grand vision.”
Also Read
- Russell Brand forced alleged rape victim to take photos of him half naked, trial told
- Pakistan’s National Stability Is Tied to Saudi Arabia’s Security
- Violent police eviction of housing protest in Porto leaves dozens injured
- How One Family Is Halving College Costs Through Dual Enrollment Amid Soaring Tuition
