Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is prioritizing efficiency by using her official residence as a primary workspace. The residence, adjacent to her office, allows her to minimize commuting time.

In December, Takaichi moved into this historic mansion, originally the prime minister’s office since 1929, before a new one was constructed nearby. She highlighted on X that residing in the ‘kotei’ shortens her commute, enabling immediate responses to emergencies.

Takaichi has enhanced office functions within the residence, facilitating remote or in-person meetings with her staff whenever necessary, even beyond regular hours. She also takes documents home for review, considering the residence a workplace.

However, Takaichi faces criticism over work-life balance issues as she reported only zero to three hours of sleep nightly due to homemaking pressures and her prime ministerial duties. Critics argue this sets a poor precedent for gender equality and work-life balance.

Her support ratings have declined amid unpopular policies like changes to reinforce a male-only Imperial House succession system and delays in economic strategies to combat rising prices.

Media reports suggest Takaichi is less visible in parliamentary sessions and often remains in the residence during nights and weekends, engaging more through posts on X than media appearances.

Notably, the residence was the site of coups in the 1930s, believed to be haunted, but Takaichi remains unbothered by these stories. “I’ve never seen a ghost, but I have often screamed because of my encounters with cockroaches,” she remarked, recounting a surprise encounter with one.