Why is Sanae Takaichi spending more time at Japan’s official residence?

Takaichi said the official residence functions as a workplace that improves efficiency. She said its proximity to her office eliminates commuting, helps her respond quickly in emergencies, and allows her to work with staff or read documents there.

What criticism has Sanae Takaichi faced over her work style and public image?

She has been criticized for setting a poor example on work-life balance and gender equality after revealing that she gets zero to three hours of sleep because of her homemaking burden and workload. Reports also said her support ratings have fallen as she delayed economic measures to address rising prices and pushed unpopular policies.

What did Takaichi say about meetings and daily work at the official residence?

She said she has strengthened office functions there so she can work and meet staff both remotely and in person whenever needed, even after office hours. She also said she takes documents home to read and described the official residence as a workplace.

Japan's leader Takaichi explains why she secludes herself at official residence

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Summary

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Saturday that she is using the official residence next to her office more for work to maximize efficiency. She said the residence lets her avoid commuting, respond immediately in an emergency, and hold meetings or read documents there. Her remarks came as media reports and criticism grew over her work-life balance, low sleep, and reduced contact with lawmakers.

Key Facts

Takaichi moved into the official residence in December.
The residence is a brick-and-stone mansion that opened in 1929 and once served as the original prime minister’s office.
She said she has reinforced office functions at the residence so she can work and hold meetings there remotely or in person even after office hours.
Media reports said she had been avoiding parliamentary sessions and spending much of her time at the residence at night and on weekends.

By AP

Published Aug 23, 2026 8:47 am KST

The Prime Minister's official residence is seen in Tokyo in February 1978. AP-Yonhap

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi , who is increasingly seen secluding herself at home, said on Saturday that she is using her official residence next to her office more for work to maximize efficiency.

In December, Takaichi moved into the official residence, a brick-and-stone mansion that opened in 1929 used to be the original prime minister’s office until its replacement was built right next to it.

Takaichi said on X that living in the official residence, or “kotei,” is good because its proximity requires no commute and lets her immediately get down to work in time of an emergency.

Takaichi said she has reinforced office functions at the residence so she can work and have meetings there remotely or in person with her staff whenever needed, even after office hours. She also takes home documents to read.

“To me, the official residence is also a workplace,” she said.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, Aug. 17. AFP-Yonhap

But Takaichi, whose work mantra and her recent revelation on X of zero to three hours of sleep at night because of her homemaking burden on top of her heavy workload as prime minister, triggered criticisms that Japan's first female leader was setting a wrong example for a work-life balance and gender-equality.

Takaichi has seen her support ratings rapidly drop as she pushed unpopular policies such as a revision to the Imperial House Law to reinforce a male-only succession system, while delaying economic measures to address rising prices.

Media reports have said that Takaichi was avoiding parliamentary sessions and largely holed up at the residence at night and on weekends, saying that she's having significantly less interactions and communication with other lawmakers and officials than her predecessors. Takaichi frequently posts comments and policies on X instead of talking to the media.

The official residence was the site of two bloody coup attempts in the 1930s, and legend has it that the building is haunted by ghosts.

Takaichi apparently doesn’t mind spending long hours at the residence despite that.

“I’ve never seen a ghost, but I have often screamed because of my encounters with cockroaches,” she said. “I was shocked when a cockroach ran past my feet.”

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