Japanese Prime Minister's Husband Discusses Official Residence Life, Responds to Rumors of Sanae Takaichi Being a 'Working Caregiver'
Taku Yamamoto, husband of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, spoke for the first time about his health condition and rumors that Takaichi is a 'working caregiver' balancing work and care.
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- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 17:10
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Central News Agency
(Tokyo, May 9, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Taku Yamamoto, 73, husband of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and former Vice Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, moved into the Prime Minister's Official Residence with Takaichi at the end of last year. He recently spoke for the first time about his own health condition and the rumors that Takaichi is a 'working caregiver' balancing work and care.
Today, the electronic edition of 'Bungei Shunju' published an interview with Taku Yamamoto, noting that it was previously believed that he had been in a recuperative state since his stroke in February last year. Japanese media 'Mainichi Shimbun' reported on January 7 this year with the title 'Is the Prime Minister a 'Working Caregiver'?' stating that Takaichi had revealed to those around her that she was 'solely caring for her husband,' suggesting she might be a 'working caregiver.'
In response, Taku Yamamoto stated in the interview, '(The stroke) was mild. Besides being hospitalized for about a month, and still having some numbness in my ankle, my recovery was faster than expected. I spent a month in a rehabilitation center and even received a graduation certificate.'
He also said that what happened last summer had a greater impact on his body than the stroke. After Taku Yamamoto returned to the議員宿舍 from the rehabilitation center, he lost his balance and fell while practicing walking with a walker, and was later diagnosed with a fractured tailbone.
Taku Yamamoto also said, 'I was not hospitalized at that time, but I couldn't do rehabilitation and couldn't move my legs, so my muscles wasted away... Now my job is to try to build muscle in my right leg. To avoid knee pain, I have to take it slowly.'
Regarding whether Sanae Takaichi helped Taku Yamamoto bathe. He replied, 'During the time I first returned home, bathing was dangerous, and Takaichi did indeed help me.' However, he said that he can now manage on his own and 'won't trouble Takaichi.'
Taku Yamamoto also said, 'I use a walker at home. The corridors of the official residence are wide, so daily life itself is good rehabilitation. My upper body is basically healthy, and I can bathe myself by holding onto the handrail, and of course, using the toilet is no problem. It just takes more time to do anything. In March this year, when Takaichi visited the United States, we discussed whether I should accompany her, but because it would take too long to descend the airplane steps, we gave up.'
When Sanae Takaichi moved into the Prime Minister's Official Residence from the House of Representatives dormitory during her year-end holiday last year, some Japanese media reported that 'the official residence had undergone barrier-free renovation.' However, Taku Yamamoto explicitly denied this in the interview, saying, 'That's false. It was just a routine renovation when a new resident moved in, and no special modifications were made for me.'
Regarding giving media interviews, Yamamoto said, 'I am an 'invisible husband' who doesn't appear in the media. This is the last time I will give such an interview.'
Considering the strict security of the Japanese Prime Minister's Official Residence and that Taku Yamamoto is still recuperating, Taku Yamamoto previously underwent 11 phone interviews totaling about 20 hours.
(Tokyo, May 9, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Taku Yamamoto, 73, husband of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and former Vice Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, moved into the Prime Minister's Official Residence with Takaichi at the end of last year. He recently spoke for the first time about his own health condition and the rumors that Takaichi is a 'working caregiver' balancing work and care.
Today, the electronic edition of 'Bungei Shunju' published an interview with Taku Yamamoto, noting that it was previously believed that he had been in a recuperative state since his stroke in February last year. Japanese media 'Mainichi Shimbun' reported on January 7 this year with the title 'Is the Prime Minister a 'Working Caregiver'?' stating that Takaichi had revealed to those around her that she was 'solely caring for her husband,' suggesting she might be a 'working caregiver.'
In response, Taku Yamamoto stated in the interview, '(The stroke) was mild. Besides being hospitalized for about a month, and still having some numbness in my ankle, my recovery was faster than expected. I spent a month in a rehabilitation center and even received a graduation certificate.'
He also said that what happened last summer had a greater impact on his body than the stroke. After Taku Yamamoto returned to the議員宿舍 from the rehabilitation center, he lost his balance and fell while practicing walking with a walker, and was later diagnosed with a fractured tailbone.
Taku Yamamoto also said, 'I was not hospitalized at that time, but I couldn't do rehabilitation and couldn't move my legs, so my muscles wasted away... Now my job is to try to build muscle in my right leg. To avoid knee pain, I have to take it slowly.'
Regarding whether Sanae Takaichi helped Taku Yamamoto bathe. He replied, 'During the time I first returned home, bathing was dangerous, and Takaichi did indeed help me.' However, he said that he can now manage on his own and 'won't trouble Takaichi.'
Taku Yamamoto also said, 'I use a walker at home. The corridors of the official residence are wide, so daily life itself is good rehabilitation. My upper body is basically healthy, and I can bathe myself by holding onto the handrail, and of course, using the toilet is no problem. It just takes more time to do anything. In March this year, when Takaichi visited the United States, we discussed whether I should accompany her, but because it would take too long to descend the airplane steps, we gave up.'
When Sanae Takaichi moved into the Prime Minister's Official Residence from the House of Representatives dormitory during her year-end holiday last year, some Japanese media reported that 'the official residence had undergone barrier-free renovation.' However, Taku Yamamoto explicitly denied this in the interview, saying, 'That's false. It was just a routine renovation when a new resident moved in, and no special modifications were made for me.'
Regarding giving media interviews, Yamamoto said, 'I am an 'invisible husband' who doesn't appear in the media. This is the last time I will give such an interview.'
Considering the strict security of the Japanese Prime Minister's Official Residence and that Taku Yamamoto is still recuperating, Taku Yamamoto previously underwent 11 phone interviews totaling about 20 hours.