Japan's Prime Minister Moves Into Haunted House

TT

Published 11.05

 

The official residence of Japan's Prime Minister in Tokyo. After two coup attempts with fatal outcomes, ghosts are said to haunt the building. Archive photo. Photo: Jiji Press/Str/AFP/TT

The Japanese Prime Minister has now moved into his official residence in Tokyo. The building has a special place in Japan's modern history. It has been at the center of two coup attempts – and is said to be haunted by ghosts.

Sanae Takaichi took on the role of prime minister with the promise of “work, work, work, work, work. And given her strict work ethic, a good night’s sleep should be close at hand.

But the question many Japanese are now asking is whether she will get that in her new home. The residence that comes with the office has been the site of two attempted coups – incidents that claimed the lives of several officials and a former prime minister. Bullet holes still remain in the facade.

Now the building is said to be haunted by the ghosts of the dead. Former prime minister Shinzo Abe lived elsewhere throughout his term, but it is unclear whether the reason was a fear of ghosts.

In contrast, prime ministers Shigeru Ishiba and Fumio Kishida lived in the residence. Neither of them reported any contact with the spirit world