Japan's PM Takaichi tells parliament chores and makeup add hours to her day, drawing criticism
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament on 14 October that household tasks and makeup mean she spends three or four more hours a day than male predecessors. The remark came during a debate on long parliamentary hours and drew criticism over gender roles.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, told parliament on Wednesday 14 October that she probably spends "three or four more hours" than her male predecessors on household tasks, on top of a packed schedule. South China Morning PostN ““I feel like I’m spending three or four more hours than male prime ministers doing these things.”” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The IndependentLC ““Doing these things, I feel I'm spending three or four more hours than male prime ministers.”” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1She said: "In the morning, I take a bath, fix breakfast and do the dishes, then apply makeup." She added that it took her aides a while to learn that she needs extra time for makeup before going on camera. The IndependentLC ““In the morning, I take a bath, fix breakfast and do the dishes, then apply makeup," Takaichi told a parliamentary session Wednesday.”“It took a while for her aides to learn that she needs extra time to fix her makeup” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2The topic arose when Fumitake Fujita of the Japan Innovation Party, a junior partner in the ruling coalition, asked about the five to seven hours a day prime ministers often spend in parliamentary sessions. South China Morning PostN “It is common for Japanese leaders to devote five to seven hours a day being grilled by opposition lawmakers or otherwise just sitting in parliament.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The IndependentLC “Fumitake Fujita, a top official of Takaichi's junior coalition partner, Japan Innovation Party” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2Citing a study, Fujita said Japan's prime minister attended parliamentary sessions on 72 days in 2022, against 50 in Britain and 13 in Germany, and said the long confinement was not in line with global standards. The Independent names the study as a report by the think tank NXJI Research, which proposed hiring cooks and other housekeeping staff at the prime minister's residence so the leader can focus on official duties and get enough sleep. South China Morning PostN “in 2022, Japan’s prime minister attended parliamentary sessions for 72 days, vs 50 days in Britain and 13 in Germany.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The IndependentLC “The report proposed introducing cooks and other housekeeping staff at the prime minister's official residence” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Takaichi, who became Japan's first woman prime minister last year and describes herself as a workaholic, said she enjoys reading take-home documents at midnight but finds it hard to find time to think clearly about Japan's future direction and her grand vision for it. South China Morning PostN “A self-described workaholic, Takaichi has previously said she sleeps just two to four hours a night” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The IndependentLC ““I do enjoy reading them late at night,” Takaichi said.” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1The Independent reports that the remarks quickly backfired, with critics saying she was promoting old-fashioned gender roles and excessive working hours, and that social media users noted many working women with children or elderly parents face heavier demands. It quotes lawyer Fusako Miwa saying that seeking forgiveness over makeup time as an excuse is unacceptable. The IndependentLC “Her emphasis on makeup, bathing and house chores quickly backfired, because she was seen as promoting old-fashioned gender roles”“seeking forgiveness because she needs time to put on makeup as an excuse is unacceptable” Read at The Independent ↗
Mixed · 2Both outlets give context on gender inequality: SCMP (via AFP) says gender roles are rigid and only 68 of 465 seats in the February Lower House election went to women, while The Independent cites government figures that women spend nearly five hours a day on housework versus about 40 minutes for the average man. South China Morning PostN “just 68 women lawmakers elected out of 465 seats up for grabs at the last Lower House election in February.” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The IndependentLC “Women spend nearly five hours doing house chores daily, compared to about 40 minutes spent by an average male” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Reports differ on her reported sleep: SCMP says she has said she sleeps two to four hours a night and has sometimes scheduled 3am staff meetings, while The Independent cites zero to three hours. South China Morning PostN “sleeps just two to four hours a night and sometimes scheduled 3am staff meetings” Read at South China Morning Post ↗ The IndependentLC “her revelation of zero to three hours of sleep at night” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1The Independent adds that Takaichi has been scaling back her parliamentary appearances, criticised as neglect of policy debate, and that her newly appointed farm minister, Kazuo Yana, resigned on Wednesday over multiple scandals. The IndependentLC “she has been scaling back on her appearances at parliament and has largely holed up at her residence at night and on weekends”“her newly-appointed farm minister Kazuo Yana resigned Wednesday over multiple scandals” Read at The Independent ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with the backlash: her remarks sparked debate on gender roles and put her performance under scrutiny.
- Emphasis
- Criticism over old-fashioned gender roles and overwork, housework statistics, her reduced parliamentary appearances and the farm minister's resignation.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Less emphasis on the proposal's context of parliamentary reform beyond Fujita's comparison.
- Charged language
- “backfired”“holed up”“outdated view on gender equality”
- For example
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“Her emphasis on makeup, bathing and house chores quickly backfired” — The Independent
“a tendency criticized as neglect of policy debate” — The Independent
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Short AFP report carried by SCMP, leading with the quote about bathing, dishes and makeup and focusing on the debate over the long hours prime ministers spend in parliament.
- Emphasis
- Takaichi's workload, her sleep and the comparison of parliamentary days across Japan, Britain and Germany; brief gender-inequality context.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report the public criticism of her remarks, the housework statistics or the farm minister's resignation.
- Charged language
- “marathon hours”
- For example
-
“Gender roles are rigid in Japan and women are chronically under-represented in politics” — South China Morning Post
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Takaichi told parliament on 14 October she spends three or four more hours than male prime ministers on morning tasks including makeup.
- Fumitake Fujita of the Japan Innovation Party raised the issue, citing 72 parliamentary days for Japan's PM in 2022 versus 50 in Britain and 13 in Germany.
- Takaichi is Japan's first woman prime minister, elected last year.
Where accounts differ
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How much Takaichi sleeps
- Left
- The Independent cites zero to three hours of sleep.
- Centre
- SCMP (AFP) says she has said she sleeps two to four hours a night.
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Reception of her remarks
- Left
- Says they quickly backfired and drew criticism for promoting old-fashioned gender roles.
- Centre
- Presents the remarks without reporting reaction.
Sanae Takaichi person
Says household tasks and makeup add three or four hours to her day compared with male predecessors, that she enjoys reading documents at night, and that the schedule leaves little time to think about Japan's long-term direction.
“it is difficult for me to squeeze out time to buckle down and think with a clear head”” — South China Morning Post
“Takaichi said managing her busy schedule has been difficult” — The Independent
Left1 article
-
Japan's Takaichi says chores and makeup add hours to her workday, sparking debate on gender roles
Critical Frames the remarks as a backlash over gender roles and work habits, adding wider criticism of her performance.
Centre1 article
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South China Morning PostN · · via AFP
‘I bathe, wash dishes, apply make-up’: Japan’s PM says busier than men that came before
Neutral Straightforward wire report on the quote and the parliamentary-hours debate, with light gender context.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 14 Oct 08:46 First South China Morning PostN ‘I bathe, wash dishes, apply make-up’: Japan’s PM says busier than men that came before via AFP
- 15 Oct 17:47 +33h The IndependentLC Japan's Takaichi says chores and makeup add hours to her workday, sparking debate on gender roles
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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