Japan's intense work culture is facing renewed global scrutiny after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi revealed she sleeps just two to four hours each night. This startling admission comes days after she called a 3 a.m. staff meeting, triggering fresh concerns about the country's long-standing struggle with overwork and its dangerous consequences.
Prime Minister's Sleep Deprivation Sparks Outrage
Appearing before a legislative committee, Prime Minister Takaichi openly discussed her extreme sleep patterns. "I sleep about two hours now, four hours at the longest. I feel it's bad for my skin," she stated. Her comments immediately drew sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers and workers' unions, who argued that Japan's leader should be promoting healthier work-life boundaries rather than reinforcing extreme work habits that have plagued the nation for decades.
Japan's overwork crisis is severely documented, with the country having a dedicated term for deaths caused by excessive work: karōshi. Alarmingly, the government is now reportedly considering raising the cap on overtime hours to boost economic growth, a move that has further fueled concern among labor advocacy groups. According to the labor ministry, nearly 1 in 5 white-collar workers is at risk of overwork-related illnesses including strokes, cardiac issues, and severe mental stress.
Foreign Workers Struggle with Indirect Communication
Beyond the punishing long hours, international workers in Japan face another challenging aspect of the country's workplace culture: hyper-polite, indirect communication. A viral Reddit post described it as "feedback so subtle it feels like a puzzle," noting that employees are rarely told directly whether their performance is good or poor.
"No one ever says 'good job' or 'you made a mistake'. It's always: 'Maybe next time, try a different way.' It's exhausting trying to read between the lines," one user wrote. This communication style, rooted in tatemae (the concept of maintaining social harmony), often leaves newcomers feeling confused and anxious about their standing at work.
Economic Realities and Visible Exhaustion
The conversation around Japan's work-life balance intersects with growing concerns about stagnant wages and high living costs. An Indian software engineer, Vicky Kumar, recently went viral after sharing his monthly salary breakdown in Japan. While his base pay is 235,000 yen (approximately ₹1.35 lakh), various deductions—including 20,000 yen for lacking a Japanese language certificate—reduce his take-home pay to about 175,000 yen (roughly ₹1 lakh).
This revelation sparked intense online debate, with many noting that such an amount barely covers basic expenses in expensive cities like Tokyo and Osaka. The economic pressure compounds the already stressful work environment.
One of the most recognizable symbols of Japan's exhausting work expectations remains the sight of "salarymen" asleep on pavements, train station steps, or benches after missing the last train home. This typically follows long office hours and obligatory after-work drinking sessions.
Photographer Pawel Jaszczuk captured this phenomenon in his series High Fashion, documenting suited professionals collapsed on sidewalks with briefcases still in hand. These powerful images have resurfaced in conversations about Japan's work culture, serving as a stark reminder of how fatigue and social pressure often replace essential rest.
A System Under Severe Strain
From an overworked Prime Minister and rising concerns around karōshi, to foreign workers struggling with indirect communication and young professionals questioning whether their salaries match living costs, Japan's work culture shows signs of deep, structural strain.
Despite government campaigns encouraging shorter hours and better boundaries, meaningful change remains frustratingly slow. As Japan confronts labor shortages, an ageing population, and intense global competition, the critical question persists: Can the nation evolve its work culture without pushing its workers beyond their human limits?
