Takaichi defends absence from ‘last-minute’ G7 online call after criticism

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has defended her absence from a Group of Seven online meeting, responding over social media to some critics who questioned why she didn’t attend despite her apparently free schedule.

“This was a last-minute meeting arranged by the chair, France, and allowed for substitute representatives. I understand that U.K. Prime Minister Burnham did not attend in person and had someone fill in for him, and that European Council President Costa was also absent,” she posted on Monday evening. She was at her residence and was not meeting with anyone while the meeting was being held Friday night, according to local media.

The post underscores her preference to pore over documents and work solo from home. In late August, the Nikkei newspaper reported that Takaichi hadn’t left her residence on most weekends and public holidays since becoming prime minister, in comparison to the previous three prime ministers who spend more weekends and national holidays at home.

Takaichi didn’t offer a specific reason for her absence, but her post suggested that the short notice and the agenda, which was focused on coordinating a response to diesel prices in Europe and the U.S., were factors for why she did not attend.

“While the outcome of this meeting was a decision to implement a coordinated release of 100 million barrels of oil reserves, Japan has already been releasing reserves and has no plans for any new measures at this time,” she posted.

Kazuya Endo, the deputy minister for foreign affairs, filled in for her, Takaichi added.

Takaichi also opted out of attending an online meeting in April regarding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, hosted by France and the United Kingdom. She instead issued a written message and had Keiichi Ichikawa, a senior diplomat and secretary-general of the National Security Secretariat, attend in her place.

An analysis of her official schedule through July showed she met Finance Ministry officials 50% less often than the country’s previous two leaders, and held the fewest Cabinet office meetings of any prime ministers over the past 14 years.