What Sanae Takaichi’s popularity among women says about gender equality in Japan

Politicians don’t often find themselves on packages of cookies. Nor do their bags tend to go viral, sparking a fashion craze. But few politicians are quite like Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. Since she took office in October, Takaichi has developed somewhat of a cult following, particularly among some younger voters and women. They’ve sparked a phenomenon known as Sanakatsu (Sana-mania), consuming all things related to Takaichi. Make no mistake: Takaichi is no…