Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has stated that her increased time spent at her official residence is a strategic choice to maximize work efficiency and remain available for emergencies. Takaichi, who moved into the historic 1929 residence in December, explained that its proximity to her office eliminates commute time, allowing her to begin work immediately.
She has reportedly reinforced the residence's functions to accommodate remote and in-person meetings with staff, even after regular office hours. Takaichi also takes documents home for review, asserting that for her, the official residence serves as a dual workspace.
This approach, coupled with her public statements about sleeping only three hours a night due to domestic responsibilities and her demanding role as prime minister, has drawn criticism. Some have argued that she is setting a poor example regarding work-life balance and gender equality. Her support ratings have reportedly declined following unpopular policy decisions, such as advocating for a revision to the Imperial House Law to maintain a male-only succession system, and delays in implementing economic measures to combat rising prices.
Media reports have suggested Takaichi is spending less time in parliamentary sessions and has fewer interactions with lawmakers and officials compared to her predecessors. Instead, she frequently communicates policy and comments via the social media platform X.
Despite the official residence's history, including two bloody coup attempts in the 1930s and local legends of hauntings, Takaichi stated she has not encountered any ghosts. Her more common unsetting encounters have been with cockroaches.