Takaichi defends long hours at official residence, calls it a workplace
Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi explains using her official residence as a workplace, citing efficiency and emergency readiness, amid criticism over extreme work hours.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has defended her habit of spending long hours secluded at her official residence, saying the arrangement helps her work more efficiently.
In a post on X on Saturday, Takaichi said living in the residence — known as the "kotei" — eliminates the commute and allows her to respond to emergencies immediately. She said she has strengthened its office functions so she can hold meetings remotely or in person with staff even after regular office hours, and often takes documents home to read.
"To me, the official residence is also a workplace," she wrote.
Takaichi moved into the brick-and-stone mansion in December. The building, which opened in 1929, originally served as the prime minister's office before a newer structure was built beside it.
Her comments come amid growing scrutiny of her work habits. She recently revealed on X that she sleeps only zero to three hours a night, citing homemaking duties on top of her prime ministerial workload. Critics, including those focused on gender equality, have said Japan's first female leader is setting a poor example for work-life balance.
Her approval ratings have slipped as she pushes controversial policies, including a revision to the Imperial House Law that would reinforce male-only succession, while delaying measures to address rising prices.
Media reports suggest Takaichi has been skipping parliamentary sessions and largely staying inside the residence at night and on weekends, with significantly less interaction with lawmakers and officials than her predecessors. She frequently communicates via X rather than speaking to the press.
The residence has a turbulent history — it was the site of two coup attempts in the 1930s, and legend holds that it is haunted. Takaichi, however, said she has never encountered a ghost.
"I've never seen a ghost, but I have often screamed because of my encounters with cockroaches," she said. "I was shocked when a cockroach ran past my feet."