As workers push for better work-life balance and four-day workweeks, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is moving in the opposite direction. The 65-year-old leader set off a firestorm on social media when she shared her plans for Sea Day—a public holiday when many Japanese citizens head to the beach.
“Today’s holiday felt like such a true blessing—finally getting a full five hours of sleep for the first time in ages,” Takaichi wrote on X in a post that’s garnered over 35 million views. “Ever since taking office as prime minister, zero-to-three hours has been the norm.”
