Japan's new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, won the country's catchphrase of the year award for promising to work nonstop for the nation. She beat out phrases like first female prime minister and Trump's tariffs. The whole thing backfired when people got mad about her telling lawmakers to work like horses and ditch work-life balance entirely.
Critics pointed out that Japan already has a massive overwork problem, and lawyers who represent karoshi victims said her comments were tone-deaf. She only sleeps two to four hours per night and allegedly called officials to her place at 3 am. Takaichi later tried walking it back by saying she just wanted to show her dedication as a leader without encouraging anyone else to grind themselves into dust.
Critics pointed out that Japan already has a massive overwork problem, and lawyers who represent karoshi victims said her comments were tone-deaf. She only sleeps two to four hours per night and allegedly called officials to her place at 3 am. Takaichi later tried walking it back by saying she just wanted to show her dedication as a leader without encouraging anyone else to grind themselves into dust.
