Sanae Takaichi Became Friends with a Cockroach She “Couldn’t Kill”
Sanae Takaichi has never seen the ghosts said to haunt Japan’s prime ministerial residence. She has, however, encountered a far more tangible menace: a cockroach. Faced with the insect, the prime minister’s response was unexpectedly philosophical. A lifelong fan of Osamu Tezuka’s Phoenix, Takaichi has long been influenced by the manga’s vision of life, death […] The post Sanae Takaichi Became…
Sanae Takaichi, the Japanese prime minister, has never experienced the ghosts rumored to inhabit her official residence. However, she has had a more concrete encounter with a common household pest: a cockroach. In response to the insect's presence, Takaichi displayed a surprisingly philosophical attitude. As a devoted fan of Osamu Tezuka's Phoenix manga, she often contemplates the themes of life, death, and rebirth that underlie the story.
When the cockroach scuttled past her, she pondered whether its existence might be part of that endless cycle. Despite her lifelong aversion to harming insects, Takaichi chose to coexist with the creature. She kept it around for a while before her aides intervened. One of them initiated what Takaichi refers to as a "combat operation," after which the cockroach vanished.
Although relieved, the prime minister admitted to feeling a bit lonely and even a touch sad at the insect's sudden departure. The cockroach story was included in a Q&A post addressing common questions about the official residence. Takaichi elaborated on why she considers the residence crucial to her work, highlighting its strategic proximity to the prime minister's office.
This arrangement allows her to react swiftly to emergencies, including early morning, nighttime, and holiday situations. However, her decision to work primarily from the residence has drawn criticism from some Japanese media outlets, which argue that she spends too much time there and interacts less with lawmakers than her predecessors.
Undeterred, Takaichi emphasized that she is not avoiding parliamentary sessions but rather utilizing a more efficient and less burdensome workspace for herself and her staff. Constructed in 1929, the residence initially functioned as the prime minister's office. It was the site of two significant events: the assassination of Prime Minister Tsuyoshi Inukai in 1932 by young naval officers and the February 26 military uprising, where rebels stormed the building in an attempt to assassinate Prime Minister Keisuke Okada.
These violent occurrences have fueled ghostly tales about the place. Despite these legends, Takaichi has yet to witness any paranormal activity during her tenure.
Written by urgent.news from Tokyo Weekender's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
