Every weekday morning before wrestling with the issues of the day, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga strolls through the basement of the Prime Minister’s Office as part of his morning routine.
The walk has been part of his day since he was chief Cabinet secretary, but now must be confined to the grounds of the building for security reasons.
Taking a walk around a dusky basement and emerging into the sunny grounds could serve as a metaphor for Suga's psychological state as he prepared for the 150-day ordinary Diet session — his first as prime minister — to wrap up as scheduled Wednesday.