A handbag carried by Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has gone viral online- sending demand for the $895 accessory soaring and thrusting a little-known local luxury brand into the global spotlight.

Social media users quickly identified the prime minister’s sleek black handbag as the “Grace Delight Tote" made by Hamano Inc., a 145-year-old Japanese leather goods company based in Nagano. The family-run brand has a long-standing reputation for craftsmanship and its handbags have been favoured for decades by Japan’s imperial family.

According to Hamano’s website, the tote- made entirely of soft leather and weighing just 700 grams (1.5 pounds)- was designed to “balance elegance with practicality." Priced at $895, it’s now become one of Japan’s most sought-after fashion ite

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