The leather handbag frequently spotted in the hands of Sanae Takaichi, Japan's first female Prime Minister, has become a hot topic on social media. The bag, which was captured on camera as she was heading to the Prime Minister's residence, quickly piqued the curiosity of internet users. It was revealed that the bag was produced by Hamano Inc., a Japanese brand with a 145-year history.
Following the buzz, the brand experienced a surge in sales.
Based in Nagano, Hamano has been recognized as one of Japan's most established leather manufacturers since the 1880s. The brand's 'Grace Delight Tote' model, one of its most well-known products, weighs only 700 grams despite being entirely made of leather. This model, which is introduced with the motto 'balance between elegance and functionality', is priced at 136,000 yen, which is approximately 37,000 TL.
When pictures of the bag started circulating on social media, thousands of new orders poured into Hamano's website. In their official statement, the company noted an increase in demand and warned of potential delays in customer feedback.
According to experts, there's more than meets the eye behind Takaiçi's choice of bag. Kaori Nakano, a fashion and culture expert from Aoyama Gakuin University, points out that Takaiçi frequently opts for clothes designed by Japanese designer Jun Aşida and promotes domestic brands.
Just as U.S. Representative Alexandria OcasioCortez's Telfar brand bag in 2020 catapulted the brand to global fame, Takaiçi's Hamano bag has had a similar impact in Japan.
Despite being 64 years old, Takaiçi is immensely popular among the younger generations. Particularly among young women, according to surveys, they find her simple yet powerful image inspiring. The Hamano bag has become an integral part of this image.