Tokyo, May 25 (Reuters): A delay in Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife moving into their official residence, the site of past assasinations, has revived talk of ghosts in the corridors.

Abe has not moved into the Prime Minister’s official residence for five months since he took power. Asked by an Opposition lawmaker about the reported hauntings, the government issued a formal statement yesterday saying it was not aware of ghost sightings, the Asahi newspaper said.

Talk of ghosts has long haunted the building, remodelled in the early 2000s.

It has served as the official residence for the Prime Minister and the Premier’s family since 2005.