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🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

Japan PM calls official residence ‘workplace’, sees cockroach but not ghosts

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated she uses her official residence as a workplace, addressing seclusion concerns.
  • Takaichi reported encountering a cockroach but not ghosts in the residence, which has a history of rumored hauntings.
  • The prime minister is pushing key agendas while facing declining public support and criticism over her demanding work schedule.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has asserted that she utilizes her official residence near her office as a functional workplace, aiming to dispel perceptions of seclusion. In recent social media posts, Takaichi shared that while she has not witnessed any ghosts within the residence, a building with a history of alleged hauntings, she has encountered a cockroach despite managing household chores herself.

I’ve created an environment to work both at the office and the official residence. This has allowed me to make necessary judgements and take responses swiftly, be it early in the morning or at night or on holidays.

— Sanae TakaichiThe prime minister explained her work habits and use of the official residence.

Takaichi, who assumed office in October, moved into the residence adjacent to the prime minister's office in late December. She explained that creating an environment conducive to work in both locations enables swift decision-making, regardless of the time or day. She also highlighted that using the residence more frequently helps reduce the burden on prime minister's office staff by requiring fewer security and personnel.

Despite media reports suggesting she spends entire days at the residence, Takaichi maintains she performs necessary duties. Her premiership has seen a dip in public support amidst her pursuit of significant agendas, including revising the Imperial House Law to maintain a male-only succession and temporarily reducing the consumption tax on food. Her earlier pledge to "work, work, work, work and work" drew criticism from those advocating for work-life balance and reform.

I perform the necessary duties.

— Sanae TakaichiTakaichi responded to media reports about her time spent at the official residence.

In July, Takaichi mentioned on X that since becoming premier, she has averaged only three hours of sleep per night, reviewing documents until dawn while also handling household chores. The official residence itself has historical significance, having been the site of assassinations during coup attempts in 1932 and 1936, with some believing the spirits of those killed in these incidents, known as the May 15 and February 26 incidents, still haunt the late 1920s building.

Zero to three hours of sleep has become the norm since becoming premier.

— Sanae TakaichiTakaichi described her demanding schedule in a social media post.
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Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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