Why abandoning work-life balance sends the wrong message

When I first read that newly elected LDP President Sanae Takaichi vowed to "abandon her work-life balance" to devote herself to her duties, my immediate reaction was disbelief. Her declaration ("I will work, work, work, work and work") might have been intended to show commitment, but to many of us living in Japan it probably hit a nerve.

Work-life balance is something Japan has been trying to improve for years. The government and companies have launched various campaigns, and society has slowly (emphasis on slowly!) started acknowledging the dangers of overwork. To hear a national leader proudly announce the opposite feels like a giant step backwards.

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As an expat, I've always admired Japan's dedication to professionalism, but I've also seen how that same culture can push people to exhaustion. I have friends who often stay at the office late into the night, not because they necessarily have to, but because leaving early still feels taboo. For women in particular, the pressure to prove themselves in a system that often rewards endurance over efficiency can be intense.

Takaichi's words are important because leaders set the tone. Her message (whether it was intentional or not) risks reinforcing an outdated idea that sacrificing personal wellbeing is a sign of strength. I really don't think Japan needs more people "working like horses," it needs leaders who believe that rest, family time, and balance aren't signs of weakness.