‘Relieved, but a little lonely’: Japanese PM after staff removes cockroaches from her residence

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently shared her experience of cockroaches in her residence, expressing relief and a hint of loneliness afterwards. She recalled a particular incident where a cockroach scurried past her feet, which initially shocked her as she was accustomed to meticulous cleaning habits. Despite her love for Osamu Tezuka's *Firebird* and its themes of reincarnation, she could not bring herself to kill the insect.

After her secretaries found her behavior unsettling, she approached them for help, leading to "Operation Combat" which eliminated the cockroaches. Although she felt "relieved," she also admitted to feeling "a little lonely" or even "sad" about the incident. This situation occurred during her admission of increased work from the official prime ministerial residence, a move that led to fewer staff and security personnel being involved.

Takaichi, Japan's first female prime minister, emphasizes the benefits of this arrangement. She is known for working long hours, often sleeping only a few hours a day, and is not averse to working on weekends.