The Japanese cabinet has formally denied months-long rumours that prime minister Shinzo Abe has not moved into his official residence because of fears the mansion is haunted.
The new leader took office in December but has yet to move into the 11-room brick home in central Tokyo.
According to local media, AFP reports, it is the longest holdout among any of his predecessors.
Several former prime ministers have reported experiencing unusual phenomena at the mansion, which was centrestage for two failed but bloody coups in the 1930s.
Some first ladies have refused to live there but former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi once told reporters he had never met any ghosts, despite wanting to see them.
In May 1932 a revolt by naval officers ended in the murder of prime minister Tsuyoshi Inukai and the plotters' surrender to military police.
In 1936, about 1400 rebel troops killed several political leaders and seized the heart of Tokyo's government district including the official residence for four days.
