Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Shares Cockroach Encounter at Residence

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shared a personal anecdote on X regarding an encounter with a cockroach at the official Prime Minister's Residence in Tokyo on August 22. While answering public questions about reported ghosts haunting the residence, Takaichi described her initial shock upon seeing the insect and her subsequent refusal to kill it.

Takaichi explained that her decision was rooted in a belief in the cycle of reincarnation and a childhood admiration for Osamu Tezuka's manga series Phoenix. She noted that the insect became an unexpected companion during her long working hours. The situation concluded when her secretaries intervened to remove the insect in an event she termed "Operation Battle."

Following the removal of the cockroach, Takaichi expressed a mixture of relief and sadness, stating that she felt "a little lonely" after its departure.