Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is rewriting the limits of work — literally starting her day at 3 AM. In a country already battling karoshi (death by overwork), her “sleep is optional” mantra is raising eyebrows. From Japan’s long work culture to the global gospel of hustle preached by Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Narayan Murthy, Jack Ma and others, extreme work hours may inspire some but exhaust nations. Hard work matters, yes — but burnout is real. So, where’s the line between ambition and self-destruction? Palki Sharma tells you.
