'Relieved But Lonely': Japan PM After Staff Gets Rid Of Her Cockroach Companion

The social media accounts of political leaders are typically stuffed with policy announcements, state-to-state meetings, and official statements. A recent candid post by Japanese politician Sanae Takaichi, however, sent a shock down the internet as she shared a rather intimate view of her personal life at the official residence. Renowned for her indefatigable and work-intensive style of governance, Takaichi took her followers aback by responding to a few quizzical queries that everyone asks her, from the ghostly tales of haunted halls to how she manages a mammoth government estate.

To put to rest rumours that ghosts reside at the former prime ministerial home, Takaichi stated she had never seen anything supernatural in the house. But, rather, her principal pest was a far more down-to-earth and familiar domestic foe. So, she said, even though she cleans her house top to bottom every day, wipes down tables before mealtime, throws away food in sturdy containers and sorts out the plastic for recycling, one night she was startled when a cockroach scurried across her floor.

The combination of manga and pest control.

Rather than immediately squashing the unexpected visitor, Takaichi revealed that her personal philosophy halted her from taking quick action. She said she has long been a fan of a popular series of Osamu Tezuka’s famous manga, “Firebird”, a tale of reincarnation and the interdependence of all life. Takaichi, who has read the series over and over since childhood, revealed that she was influenced so greatly that she has difficulty killing animals—even common insects found around the house.

These convictions made it difficult for the hard-working leader to tolerate the pest, and he decided against a prompt eradication attempt. She accepted the fact of her situation, and over the next few days, she endured until the insect would eventually make its way back outdoors, a process she referred to as a long cycle of reincarnation. As she walked around the office and casually mentioned her peculiar roommate, however, her office staff took a more rigid, traditional approach to the issue of government room cleanliness.

A Swift End to the Unlikely Companion

This was an abhorrent notion to her, so her secretary acted promptly to settle the matter. The staff made it clear they would not tolerate insects and were able to implement a planned insect control programme with traps to remove the insects from the building. The intervention was fast and effective, completely eliminating the pests and leaving the premises totally clean and pest-free.

The administrative staff felt the clean-up was a complete success; Takaichi said he had some mixed feelings about the pest’s absence. She knew she was relieved her house was clean and quiet again but said that she felt a little bit lonely without her surprising late-night guest. The ruthless and relatable blog post was shared widely on social media and was enjoyed by many who had a glimpse into the softer side of a committed leader, carrying such great responsibilities for the nation, but with some quirks of everyday life for the people who look after them.

See the post here: