Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara on Wednesday defended Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after the leader¡¯s social media post about being unable to get enough sleep drew criticism for running counter to workstyle reform efforts.
Kihara avoided commenting directly on the post, saying, ¡°It was a post from a personal account.¡± But he added, ¡°I believe the prime minister will continue to make choices and do her best in her duties.¡±
¡°This is for the good of the nation and the people,¡± he went on. ¡°I will continue to do everything I can to support her.¡±
Takaichi posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday night, ¡°Getting zero to three hours of sleep a day has become my norm since I took office (last October).¡±
In the post about how she spent the three-day weekend through Monday, the prime minister said she was busy reading government documents and ¡°handling thousands of emails¡± on Saturday and Sunday.
¡°I was able to sleep for five hours for the first time in a while (on Monday),¡± she said. ¡°In the afternoon, I ironed a lot of handkerchiefs and undershirts that I had left after washing them, and did some sewing.¡±
In response, Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, said at a press conference Tuesday that Takaichi ¡°should use her precious time for the jobs that only the prime minister can do.¡±
¡°The prime minister does not deny (the importance) of work-life balance,¡± Kihara said at Wednesday¡¯s news conference, seeking understanding.
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