Japanese PM Takaichi criticized over parliamentary attendance, responses

TOKYO, July 7 — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has recently come under criticism over her attendance at parliamentary deliberations and her responses to lawmakers’ questions, with critics accusing her of disregarding the Diet, Japan’s parliament.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun, as of Monday, Takaichi had attended eight intensive Diet deliberations during the current parliamentary session, spending a total of 29 hours and 36 minutes — roughly 40 percent of the average time logged by former prime ministers Yoshihide Suga, Fumio Kishida and Shigeru Ishiba over the past five years.

In addition, the ruling and opposition parties agreed in 2025 to hold a parliamentary debate among party leaders every month from April through June. Takaichi, however, has attended only one such debate this year, in May.