Japan PM Takaichi's punishing work schedule draws scrutiny

Officials close to Takaichi stated that doctors examined her hands and conducted other health checks, with results showing no significant issues. Takaichi has a history of rheumatoid arthritis, having previously sought treatment after injuring her hand during campaigning for the Lower House election. The injury aggravated her existing condition, leading to her wearing a protective brace.

Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties have questioned Takaichi's approach to managing her workload and communicating about it. Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, suggested that a leader's job includes effective work allocation and that Takaichi should receive more support to ensure she can make decisions with a clear mind. A ruling Liberal Democratic Party source commented that history would judge her working methods and the importance of having trusted aides.

Takaichi herself has described her routine, including weekends spent reading thick policy papers from early morning until late at night and wrestling with mountains of documents. She noted that on a recent three-day weekend, she managed five hours of sleep, calling the afternoon "precious time I could use privately" for tasks like ironing and sewing.