Whether at the White House in Washington, No. 10 Downing St. in London or the Elysee Palace in Paris, the political leaders of many nations are expected to occupy an official residence.
In this regard, however, Japan stands out as something of an exception. In Shukan Bunshun (March 4), media savant Akira Ikegami asks why many of Japan's recent prime ministers — including the present one, Yoshihide Suga — choose not to live in the residence provided for them free of charge.
During a budgetary planning session on Feb. 15, Yoshihiko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan asked Suga for an explanation.