Japan's Overworked Elite and the Myth of Burnout The recent social media post by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about her chronic sleep deprivation has reignited a national debate on Japan's demanding work culture.
While some have defended her hard work, others have criticized the glorification of overwork amid government efforts for work life balance reforms.
Takaichi's post was hardly shocking, given Japan's notorious work culture of extreme hours, where employees often sacrifice sleep, social lives, and even their health to demonstrate dedication to their jobs.