Takaichi admitted that while she was relieved, the insect’s removal left her feeling surprisingly “sad and lonely” during her long isolation working nights and weekends.
TOKYO — In an unusually candid revelation from inside the halls of international power, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has admitted to feeling unexpectedly “lonely” after her staff removed a cockroach from her official residence.
Addressing long-standing rumors that Tokyo’s historic 1920s prime ministerial residence is haunted, Takaichi shared on social media platform X that while she has never encountered a ghost, she was recently startled by a six-legged intruder. Despite enforcing strict cleanliness protocols—including meticulous kitchen maintenance and sealed waste bins—the uninvited pest appeared beside her while she was working late into the night.
Rather than squashing the insect, Japan’s first female prime minister chose to spare it. Takaichi explained that her decision stemmed from a childhood fascination with Osamu Tezuka’s iconic manga Firebird (Hi no Tori), which heavily explores themes of reincarnation and the interconnectedness of life.
“I thought things like, ‘maybe this life is also part of that long cycle of reincarnation,'” Takaichi revealed, adding that she tolerated the insect’s presence for days in the hope it would voluntarily wander back outside.
Her administrative staff, however, took a far less philosophical view of the situation. Upon discovering the resident pest, her secretaries deemed it a hygiene hazard and promptly launched a targeted extermination effort dubbed “Operation Combat”.
The extermination was successful, but the resulting quiet left the notoriously workaholic leader with mixed emotions. Takaichi, known for putting in extreme hours and working late nights and weekends in isolation, confessed that the pest’s sudden removal created a strange void.
“I felt relieved, but also a little lonely, or maybe sad,” she wrote.
The lighthearted anecdote has quickly captured global attention, offering a rare humanising glimpse into the isolated world of top-tier diplomacy.
Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Loves Working From Home, But Not With Cockroaches
This news broadcast offers context on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s late-night work habits and her viral social media story about the cockroach at her official Tokyo residence.
What is the Sanae Takaichi cockroach story about?
The story refers to a viral social media post by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, where she revealed that she encountered a cockroach while working late at night at her official residence. Inspired by a manga on reincarnation, she spared the insect, but later felt “lonely” when her staff removed it.
Is the Japan Prime Minister official residence haunted?
The historic 1920s prime ministerial residence (Santei) in Tokyo has long been rumored in Japanese media to be haunted due to its past history of political uprisings. However, PM Sanae Takaichi clarified that she has never seen a ghost there, only an uninvited cockroach.
Why does the Japanese PM do late night work at the residence?
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is well-known for her intense work ethic, frequently putting in long hours, working late nights, and staying over weekends at her official residence to manage state affairs and economic policies.
Why didn’t Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi kill the cockroach?
PM Takaichi explained that she was influenced by Osamu Tezuka’s manga Firebird (Hi no Tori), which taught her to respect living creatures and consider the concept of reincarnation.
writer – jurskia vorony