Sanae Takaichi PM Residence Move: Facing Ghosts After Crisis Response Backlash
Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi has moved into the reputedly haunted official residence following criticism over her earthquake response time. Discover the history and politics behind the move.
She's known for sleeping only two to four hours a night, but Japan's first female leader might find those precious hours of rest even more elusive now. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi officially moved into the Prime Minister's residence on Monday, December 29, 2025. While the move puts her closer to her office, it also places her in a mansion famously rumored to be haunted by the restless spirits of Imperial soldiers.
Why Sanae Takaichi Moved into the Official Residence Now
Takaichi didn't move in just for the architecture. Since taking office two months ago, she'd been staying in parliamentary dorms, a decision that backfired during a major earthquake in early December. Critics slammed the 64-year-old leader after it took her 35 minutes to reach her office during the emergency. For a PM who pledged to "work, work, work," the commute was a political liability she could no longer afford.
A Century of Ghosts and Assassinations
The residence, opened in 1929 and inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, carries a bloody history. In the 1930s, it was the site of two attempted coups where young military officers assassinated several top officials, including a prime minister. Legend says the ghosts of those involved still roam the stone hallways, and at least one bullet hole remains as a grim reminder of the past.
Recent predecessors have had mixed feelings about the property. Shigeru Ishiba lived there and claimed he wasn't afraid of ghosts, while Fumio Kishida reported sleeping soundly. However, Shinzo Abe—Takaichi's late mentor—and Yoshihide Suga both avoided the mansion entirely, leaving the supposed specters alone for nine years until 2021.
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