Japan's Prime Minister claims she works more hours than men due to housework and applying make-up

During an address to parliament, she alluded to the idea that she feels required to clean dishes and apply make-up before starting her working day.

Ms Takaichi's aides - having only served under male prime ministers previously - had to learn that she needed more time to prepare for TV broadcasts.

Japan is stereotypically known for its traditional gender roles. Long days at work are a common occurrence for most working men, while women are often left to complete the bulk of housework and childcare.

The Japanese PM is also known for working late into the evening and night.

This apparent long schedule leaves little time for sleep with Ms Takaichi stating: "I sleep about two hours now, four hours at the longest".

She added that this may be affecting her health, telling MPs "it’s probably bad for my skin".

During her acceptance speech following her election however, she announced she would be abandoning any work-life balance.

Officials have suggested that the Prime Minister reduces the length of parliamentary meetings to allow for free time.

Ms Takaichi admitted: "It is not easy to squeeze out time to sit down and think about the future direction of Japan or have a grand vision."

It has been suggested on social media that Ms Takaichi represents an old-fashioned view that she herself fails to adhere to.

She has previously stated that her husband does the cooking at home, implying she may not experience as much pressure from gender expectations as she claims.