Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Turns the Official Residence Into a 24-Hour Office

She emphasized that the residence now functions as both home and office, allowing her to hold meetings remotely or in person after regular office hours.

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Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister in October and moved into the official residence in late December. The brick-and-stone mansion, opened in 1929, originally housed the prime minister’s office and later became the site of two failed coup attempts—the May 15 incident (1932) and the February 26 incident (1936). Popular folklore claims the building is haunted; Takaichi has publicly denied seeing any ghosts while acknowledging an encounter with a cockroach.

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• During a 94-day holiday period out of 286 days since taking office, Takaichi spent 51 days at the official residence or lawmakers’ quarters, 36 days on official events, and 11 days on party-related duties. The only recorded personal outing was a dental appointment on May 30.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae spent more than half of his days in the accommodation during . .

• Takaichi has said her nightly sleep averages zero to three hours.

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• By comparison, former prime ministers spent far less time at their residences during holidays: Shigeru Ishiba 14 % of holidays, Fumio Kishida 16 %, and Yoshihide Suga 3 %.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae spent more than half of his days in the accommodation during . .

• She reiterated that the residence is “also a workplace,” allowing her to read cabinet papers, perform household chores, and respond to emergencies without leaving the premises.

The Straits Times

• In response to rumors of hauntings, she stated she has not seen ghosts but did encounter a cockroach while doing household work.

The Straits Times

• She has defended her “work, work, work” mantra as essential for swift decision-making, even as she acknowledges extremely limited sleep.

The Straits Times

Takaichi’s visibility has sparked a cult-following dubbed “Sanakatsu” (Sana-mania), especially among younger voters and some women. Observers suggest her relatable depiction of juggling public duties, domestic chores, and minimal sleep resonates with women who already manage similar double burdens, even if they disagree with her conservative policy stance. The phenomenon highlights persistent gendered expectations in Japan and raises questions about whether admiration for her work ethic reinforces, rather than challenges, existing inequities.

The Conversation

• Precise public-support figures are not provided, leaving the extent of her rating decline unclear.

The Conversation

• Ghost rumors persist despite her denial, illustrating a gap between folklore and official statements.

The Straits Times

• “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 Takaichi, japanese prime minister

The Straits Times