Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi sparks ‘sanamania’ craze as youth drives election surge

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sparked a youth-driven craze across Japan, including for her fashion choices that have gone viral online. The phenomenon, dubbed sanakatsu or “sanamania”, has made the country’s first female leader a star among young voters. Although the recent hype could give her ruling coalition an edge in the coming general election, it remains uncertain whether the craze, largely focused on her personal image, will translate into broader electoral success.