Prime Minister Takaichi says official residence doubles as her office

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told followers that living in the official residence, a brick-and-stone mansion opened in 1929, enables her to treat the site as an extension of her office, eliminating the need for a commute and allowing rapid response in emergencies. Since moving in last December, she has equipped the residence with office facilities so staff can meet with her remotely or in person after regular hours, and she often brings documents home to read.

Her statements about sleeping only zero to three hours a night have sparked criticism over her example for work-life balance and gender equality. Media reports suggest she spends nights and weekends at the residence, reducing interaction with other lawmakers compared with previous leaders. The building, once the original prime minister’s office, has a history of 1930s coup attempts and local legends of hauntings, though Takaichi says she has only encountered cockroaches, not ghosts.