The residence of the late former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka in Tokyo was significantly damaged by fire on Monday. No injuries were reported.
What Happened: The fire broke out in a two-story house within the premises of the residence. The police were called to the Bunkyo Ward around 3:20 p.m. Monday, by which time the house was already completely destroyed, and an adjacent forested area was also engulfed, reported The Japan Times.
The late Prime Minister’s daughter, former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, and her husband, former Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka, were at the residence during the incident but were able to escape unharmed. Makiko Tanaka, 79, informed the police that she was lighting incense sticks when the fire started.
Why It Matters: The residence, symbolic of Kakuei Tanaka’s influence and affluence, is centrally located in Tokyo, near a ...