Takaichi carries Japanese leather goods maker Hamano's tote bag as she arrives at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, Japan, January 23, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
The handbag she carries is sold out, her pink pen has gone viral and even her favourite snacks are in hot demand: Japan's 64-year-old leader Sanae Takaichi has sparked an unlikely youth-led craze that could propel her to a big election win.
Polls suggest 'sanakatsu', roughly translated as 'sanamania', can help give Japan's first female prime minister a decisive mandate in Sunday's general election.
Takaichi has built a social media following that dwarfs those of her rivals: Her viral posts stand out in Japan's usually staid politics, such as clips of her drumming to the hit song Golden from Netflix's K-Pop Demon Hunters with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, or serenading Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with 'Happy Birthday' in Italian.
Reuters One Essential Read is sent three days a week. Think your friend or colleague should know about us? Forward this newsletter to them. They can also sign up here.
Want to stop receiving this email? Unsubscribe here. To manage which newsletters you're signed up for, click here.
This email includes limited tracking for Reuters to understand whether you’ve engaged with its contents. For more information on how we process your personal information and your rights, please see our Privacy Statement.
No comments:
Post a Comment