- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently shared her experience with cockroaches in her official residence, stating she felt 'relieved, but a little lonely' after they were removed.
- Takaichi moved into the official residence in December, a brick-and-stone mansion that opened in 1929.
- She encountered a cockroach scurrying past her feet in the residence, which shocked her despite her efforts to keep the place clean.
- Influenced by the reincarnation concept in Osamu Tezuka's Firebird, she initially endured the cockroach, hoping it would leave on its own.
- After informing her secretaries, they were appalled and arranged 'Operation Combat' to remove the cockroaches.
- Once the cockroaches stopped appearing, Takaichi felt 'relieved, but also a little lonely, or maybe sad.'
- On August 22, she shared the anecdote on X, noting she works more from the residence to minimize staff and security.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently shared her experience with cockroaches at her official residence, revealing a surprising emotional response after their removal. She described feeling 'relieved, but a little lonely' as her staff handled the situation.1
Takaichi, who moved into the residence in December, recounted her shock at encountering a cockroach despite her efforts to maintain cleanliness. “Even after moving to the official residence, I carefully wiped down the floor under the dining table, put food scraps in a sturdy lidded garbage can,” she explained.
Her reflections were influenced by Osamu Tezuka's *Firebird*, which explores themes of reincarnation. Takaichi noted, “For the cockroach that ran through the official residence, I thought things like, ‘Maybe this life is also part of that long cycle of reincarnation,’” indicating her reluctance to harm the insect.
After sharing her concerns with her secretaries, they promptly arranged for pest control, leading to the cessation of cockroach sightings. “It’s unclean. I’ll handle it,” one secretary stated, initiating what Takaichi humorously termed 'Operation Combat.'
Takaichi has been increasingly working from her official residence to maximize efficiency, stating, “To me, the official residence is also a workplace.” Her candid remarks about loneliness and her work habits have sparked discussions about the pressures faced by leaders in high-stress environments.
“Takaichi recounted on X that she endured the cockroach because of the reincarnation theme in Osamu Tezuka's Firebird, and her secretaries arranged 'Operation Combat' to remove it. She also said she works more from the residence to minimize staff and security, and she gets only a few hours of sleep daily.”
