A long-running line of Japanese-style teacups that show caricatures of every Japanese prime minister will now feature a woman for the first time, following the appointment of Sanae Takaichi as prime minister.
Yamashi Seitosho, a pottery-maker in the city of Toki, Gifu Prefecture, that produces the prime minister series, said orders jumped ahead of Takaichi’s official start.
“(Takaichi’s election) will go down in the history books, so I want this teacup to sell more,” said Takahito Kato, 33, the company’s managing director who also designs the caricatures.
Japan’s political outlook was uncertain for more than two weeks between the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race and the parliament vote for prime minister, after Komeito quit the ruling coalition and while opposition parties explored unifying behind a single candidate.
Kato said he even considered preparing a caricature of Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People. “I’m relieved it ended up being Takaichi, which I had already prepared,” he said.
According to Kato, the defining feature of Takaichi’s illustration is her hairstyle. “I think we captured her look,” he said.
While sales of a teacup featuring former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba totaled about 4,000 in one year — the lowest on record — preorders for Takaichi’s teacup surpassed 4,000 even before she was sworn in.
“It looks like we can get off to a good start,” Kato said, brimming with enthusiasm.
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