Japan: Takaichi’s “three hours longer day” remark sparks gender-role debate

Tokyo — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has triggered a nationwide debate over gender roles and Japan’s long working hours after telling parliament that household chores and makeup add three to four hours to her day compared with male predecessors.
Speaking on Wednesday, Takaichi said she bathes, prepares breakfast, washes dishes and applies makeup in the morning. She said these responsibilities mean she spends more time than previous male prime ministers.
Critics said her remarks reinforced outdated gender stereotypes and normalised excessive working hours, a long-standing problem in Japan. Official figures show Japanese women spend nearly five hours a day on housework, compared with about 40 minutes for men.
Social media users noted that many working women who raise children or care for elderly relatives face far greater pressures than the prime minister. Lawyer Fusako Miwa wrote that while Takaichi may need more time, using makeup as an excuse and seeking leniency was unacceptable.
Junior coalition partner Fumitake Fujita of the Japan Innovation Party proposed shortening lengthy parliamentary sessions attended almost daily by ministers. Citing an NXJI research report, he said Japan’s prime minister attended parliament on 72 days in 2022, compared with 50 in Britain and 13 in Germany.
Takaichi acknowledged that managing her schedule is difficult and that finding time to think about Japan’s future is also challenging.