Business

Did Japan PM encounter a ghost at her residence?

By Sohail Khan 25 August 2026, 8:37 pm

Benchmarks
Nifty24,334.55115.5

FEATURED FUNDS★★★★★

Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Direct-Growth

5Y Return
23.95 %

Invest Now

Enter search text:

Business News›News›International›Global Trends›"I’ve never encountered a ghost, but until recently…": Japan PM Sanae Takaichi reveals unusual experience as staff launch ‘Operation Combat’ at official residence

Read Today's Paper

"I’ve never encountered a ghost, but until recently…": Japan PM Sanae Takaichi reveals unusual experience as staff launch ‘Operation Combat’ at official residence

Synopsis

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says she has never encountered a ghost at the official residence, but a surprising incident involving a cockroach left her unable to act. Recalling how Osamu Tezuka’s Firebird shaped her childhood belief in reincarnation, Takaichi revealed that her staff eventually launched “Operation Combat” to deal with the problem.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi<br> — Despite the residence’s long history and reputation, Takaichi said she has never seen a ghost there

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has revealed an unexpectedly personal story about life inside Japan’s official residence, beginning with a question about ghosts and leading to a childhood belief in reincarnation that has stayed with her for decades.

“I’ve never encountered a ghost, but until recently, I was the one screaming when I came across cockroaches,” she wrote on X. Takaichi was responding to a question she said she is often asked about whether she has ever experienced anything supernatural at the official residence.

ALSO READ: In 2014, scientists blasted Mount St. Helens, one of America's most closely watched volcanoes, with 23 explosions, revealing a vast magma system underground

‘I’ve never encountered a ghost’

Despite the residence’s long history and reputation, Takaichi said she has never seen a ghost there. Instead, one of her most memorable experiences involved an unexpected visitor that appeared despite her efforts to keep the residence clean.

What made the episode unusual was not simply the insect itself, but Takaichi’s inability to kill it. She said her reaction may have been connected to an idea about reincarnation that first took root during her childhood.

公邸について書きましたので、よく頂くご質問についても、お答えします。

「公邸にはオバケが出るそうですが、もう会いましたか？」

私は、オバケに会ったことは無いのですが、先日までは、ゴキブリに会って叫び声を上げていました。…

— 高市早苗 (@takaichi_sanae) August 22, 2026

How ‘Firebird’ influenced her

Takaichi said she repeatedly read Osamu Tezuka’s Firebird when she was young. The manga explores life, death and reincarnation, and Takaichi said its depiction of the cycle of life left a deep impression on her.

ALSO READ: Tech layoffs 2026: More than 175,000 workers laid off as Apple, Microsoft, Oracle, Amazon, Meta, TikTok, Uber, LinkedIn and dozens of companies cut jobs amid AI boom

The idea that “life is connected, changing forms” remained with her as she grew older. That childhood influence came back to her when an unwanted visitor suddenly appeared near her feet at the official residence.

Rather than immediately trying to kill it, she found herself thinking: “Maybe this life is also part of that long cycle of reincarnation.” She decided to leave it alone for a while and hoped it would eventually make its own way out.

She had taken precautions at the residence

Takaichi said she had not faced a similar problem at the members’ dormitory, where she had previously stayed. After moving into the official residence, she made efforts to prevent such incidents. She carefully handled food waste, cleaned around the dining area and washed used plastic containers.

ALSO READ: Robert De Niro’s ‘The Whisper Man’ gets Netflix release date: Plot, cast, trailer and everything else to know

Still, her precautions did not prevent the surprise encounter. For some time, she kept the incident to herself, waiting for the visitor to leave. Eventually, she told her secretaries what had happened.

Her staff launched ‘Operation Combat’

Her secretaries were apparently much more decisive. “It’s unclean. I’ll handle it,” Takaichi quoted one of them as saying.

The secretary then arranged what Takaichi called “Operation Combat”. The measures appeared to work. Afterward, she said there were no further sightings at the residence. But the end of the episode brought Takaichi an unexpected mix of emotions.

Takaichi said she was obviously relieved that the problem had been dealt with. Yet she also felt something else.

“I felt relieved, but also a little lonely, or maybe sad…” she wrote. The unusual anecdote offers a rare glimpse into the personal side of Japan’s prime minister, showing how a childhood story can remain powerful enough to influence even an ordinary moment decades later.

Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
Add Now!

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

(You can now subscribe to our WhatsApp channel)

Read More News on
Sanae TakaichiJapan prime ministerJapanese PMofficial residenceOperation CombatSanae Takaichi ghostOsamu TezukaFirebirdreincarnationJapan politics

Enter search text:

Continue reading with one of these options:
Limited Access
Free
Login to get access to some exclusive stories

& personalised newsletters
Login Now

Unlimited Access
Starting @ Rs120/month
Get access to exclusive stories, expert opinions &

in-depth stock reports
Subscribe Now

Unlock Access to All Exclusives with ETPrime FREE TRIAL

15 Days Free: Unlock All ETPrime Exclusives, Market Tools & ePapers

Trial offer expiring in00 : 05 : 00

I'd rather pay ₹2599 now

Uh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Prime Account Detected!

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with

Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

Unlock ETPrime's Exclusive Stories Today!

Subscribe to gain powerful insights on business, stock market and industry trends.

Big Price Drop! Flat 40% Off

Student Only Offer

Already a Member? Sign In now

Already a Member? Sign In now
Already a Member? Sign In now

Offer Exclusively For You

Save up to Rs. 700/-

ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get Flat 40% Off

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Special Offer

Get flat 40% off on ETPrime

Avail Offer
Avail Offer

Claim NowAlready a Member? Sign In now

Need Assistance?

Connect with an ETPrime expert for personalized support and guidance

+91 9484700004

' + h3 + '

' + h4 + '

' + listing + '

What’s Included with

ETPrime Membership

1Exclusive Insights That Matter

Uncover the truth with our investigative stories

Make strategic moves using the real-world case studies

Read industry-specific stories to identify emerging trends

Spot opportunities with in-depth insights that matter

Trump temper on H-1B visas is forcing Indians to do these things to stay put in US

What Adani’s US indictment means for India Inc’s overseas fundraising
Why veterans like Reliance, L&T are on acquisition spree? Aswath Damodaran has an answer.

Will China’s dollar bond sale in Saudi Arabia trump the US in financial world?
Huawei launches its own OS to compete with Google and Apple. But can it win beyond China?

The problem with lab grown diamonds
Why a falling rupee is a better option for the economy

A list of top 20 momentum stocks that have delivered massive returns in one year