Takaichi says chores, makeup add hours to her workday, sparks debate on gender roles

TOKYO: Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi’s comments that she works longer than her male predecessors because of household chores and makeup have sparked debate over gender roles and work-life balance in Japan.Addressing parliament Wednesday, Takaichi described the additional demands she faces as a woman. “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 aides took time to realise she needed extra time to apply makeup and prepare for television appearances. Her remarks drew criticism for reinforcing traditional gender roles and normalising excessive working hours. Govt figures show women spend nearly five hours daily on housework, against about 40 minutes for an average man.Takaichi, who took office last year, has said she sleeps between zero and three hours a night because of homemaking responsibilities and her official workload. Critics said she was setting a poor example on work-life balance and gender equality.Fumitake Fujita, a senior official of junior coalition partner Japan Innovation Party, raised the issue of PM’s schedule Wednesday, suggesting that hours-long parliamentary sessions, which ministers attend almost daily, be reduced. Citing NXJI Research, he said Japan’s PM attended parliamentary sessions on 72 days in 2022, compared with 50 in Britain and 13 in Germany.Takaichi said she routinely takes home documents despite difficulty managing her schedule. “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.”You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.