Work-life balance” has been attracting worldwide attention against the backdrop of the problems of long working hours and an aging society with a declining birthrate. In Japan, a charter was established in 2007, and the public and private sectors have worked together to promote the concept. We asked TV personality Chiaki Horan, who has worked hard since her 20s, about her views on the concept. (Part 1 of 2). (Continued from Part 1 of 2) [Photo] Blonde hair is charming! See more of Chiaki Horan * * * — Chiaki Horan anchored the TBS evening news and information program “NSTA” from 2017, when she was in her late 20s, until March 2013. During her eight years in news, she reported on four administrations: the second Shinzo Abe administration, the Yoshihide Kan administration, the Fumio Kishida administration, and the Shigeru Ishiba administration. The prime minister’s schedule is called “Prime Minister’s Movements,” and the records are available to the public. If you check it, it is obvious at a glance that every prime minister is really working without a break. I think everyone was so busy that the concept of “life” did not exist from the moment they assumed the position of “prime minister,” even if they did not dare to say, “Let’s abandon the term ‘work-life balance. I think everyone was so busy that the concept of “life” did not exist from the moment he assumed the position of “prime minister. But why did you choose to put it into words? I took it to mean that he wanted to show his resolve by daring to clearly put it into words. Even if you have made up your mind to do the same thing, the message you send to the public will differ greatly depending on whether you put it into words or not. How you “perform” is an important element for a politician. Ms. Takaichi is also attracting attention as the first female prime minister. There must have been various reactions from within the LDP as well as from the public. I believe that her message was that she would do what she had to do, regardless of what the public might say. I think that was the message she was trying to send. If the times had been different, perhaps Ms. Takaichi would have expressed herself differently. In the first place, I also wonder if it is appropriate to equate the sensibilities of ordinary workers like us in society with those of the prime minister. It is literally hard work to carry the nation on one’s shoulders. With this in mind, when I looked at the situation of the LDP and Mr. Takaichi as a politician, I personally did not feel any discomfort with his statement.
