Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi can bid farewell to convenience stores once he moves into the Prime Minister's Official Residence after the Golden Week holidays.
The divorced prime minister, who has been living alone in an apartment in one of the central Tokyo complexes that house the Diet's lawmakers, plans to live with his elder sister and his most trusted secretary and have all his meals cooked for him, sources said.
In the past, Koizumi at times opted for the "onigiri" rice balls commonly sold at convenience stores, but now his meals will be prepared by a cook who will be hired for the Prime Minister's Official Residence.
While most of his electrical appliances and furniture will be rented, Koizumi -- whose wide-ranging taste in music is well known -- plans to bring in his own CD player, aides said.
The belongings of former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori have already been moved out of the building and it is undergoing minor renovations. When Koizumi moves in, he will be the 12th prime minister in the postwar period to live in the official residence.