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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said she puts in longer hours than her male predecessors because she has to handle household chores and apply makeup, comments that have triggered a national debate on gender roles.
Takaichi made the remark during a parliamentary session on Wednesday.
“In the morning, I take a bath, fix breakfast and do the dishes, then apply makeup,” she said.
“Doing these things, I feel I’m spending three or four more hours than male prime ministers.”
She said it took her aides time to learn that she needed extra time to fix her makeup and be presentable before appearing on camera.
Takaichi said managing her busy schedule had been difficult, and that she routinely brings home a thick stack of documents.
“I do enjoy reading them late at night,” she said.
“Honestly, I feel it is not easy to squeeze out time to sit down and think about the future direction of Japan or have a grand vision.”
Takaichi’s emphasis on makeup, bathing and housework quickly drew criticism, with detractors saying she was reinforcing outdated gender roles and glorifying excessive working hours, both long-standing problems in Japan.
In Japan, where gender roles remain rigid and long hours are the norm for men, working women often carry the additional burden of house chores and child care.
Government figures show women spend nearly five hours daily on housework, compared with about 40 minutes for an average man.
Social media users noted that many working women raising children or caring for elderly parents face heavier demands than Takaichi and argued that her comment reflected poor time management and an outdated view on gender equality.
