Prime Minister Takaichi Sparks Controversy with 3 a.m. Meeting After Early Salary Cut Move

Mixed Reactions to Unconventional Work Style... Concerns Raised
Plan Announced to Cut Salaries of Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers

It has come to light that Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan, began preparing for work at 3 a.m. ahead of her appearance before the House of Representatives Budget Committee, sparking a widespread debate in Japanese society over "work-life balance."

On the 7th, local media outlets such as the Sankei Shimbun reported that Prime Minister Takaichi held a meeting with her secretaries at the official residence from 3 a.m. for about three hours, reviewing potential questions and response strategies. While previous prime ministers have also prepared in advance for budget deliberations, it is considered highly unusual to hold meetings at such an early hour.

Concerns about the prime minister's working style were raised directly at the Budget Committee meeting, which began at 9 a.m. Saito Ken, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, pointed out that Prime Minister Takaichi has not only attended a series of diplomatic events such as the ASEAN Summit, Japan-U.S., Japan-South Korea, and Japan-China summits, and the APEC Summit since taking office, but has also been pushing through a demanding parliamentary schedule. He expressed concern about overwork.

On the 30th of last month, Sanae Takaichi, Prime Minister of Japan, attended the APEC Summit in Gyeongju. Photo by Yonhap News.

He advised, "Rest is necessary even for good results," adding, "You need to allow yourself some leisure and even a bit of laziness." However, Prime Minister Takaichi continued her response without making any particular comment on Saito's remarks.

Japanese netizens were divided in their reactions. Some expressed concern for her health, saying, "I wonder if she is getting enough sleep," and "Rest is necessary to maintain sound judgment." On the other hand, there were also messages of support such as, "With this level of passion, I want to follow her," and "The leader is setting an example."

However, there was also no shortage of criticism, with comments such as, "Not only her own work-life balance but also that of her aides is being destroyed," "This is not sustainable leadership," and "A 3 a.m. meeting is unreasonable."

This controversy is also connected to Prime Minister Takaichi's remarks immediately after being elected president of the Liberal Democratic Party, when she declared, "I will throw away the idea of work-life balance and work, and work again." Labor unions and families of those who died from overwork strongly objected, saying, "This statement directly contradicts the principles of worker protection that the government has been promoting."

In response, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara explained, "That statement was meant to express determination, not to deny work-life balance itself," as he sought to defuse the situation.

Additionally, Prime Minister Takaichi recently announced plans to reduce the salaries of the prime minister and cabinet ministers. At her inaugural press conference on the 21st of last month, she stated her intention to amend the law to ensure that the salaries of the prime minister and cabinet ministers do not exceed those of members of parliament. If the salaries of the prime minister and cabinet ministers are cut as planned, their monthly pay will decrease by about 10 million won.