Meloni, Anime, and the Unexpected Language of Soft Power

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Japan on the afternoon of January 15 and is scheduled to hold a summit meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on January 16. Social media users have dubbed the meeting the "SanaMelo Summit," which is drawing attention as a rare encounter between two conservative female leaders.

From Humble Beginnings to Political Power

Raised in a single-parent household, Meloni took on a range of jobs, including babysitting and bartending, to support herself. She was first elected to Italy's lower house in 2006 at the age of 29, and later went on to help found the hardline conservative party Brothers of Italy in 2012.

A practicing Catholic, Meloni places strong emphasis on family values and tradition. She has called for the expulsion of illegal immigrants and has kept her distance from contemporary feminist movements.

'Meloni-chan'

Giorgia Meloni is also known as a fan of Japanese anime and is said to have been particularly influenced by classic series such as Lupin III and Space Pirate Captain Harlock. Before becoming Italy's first female prime minister in October 2022, Meloni frequently shared Japanese anime and anime-style illustrations on social media.

*Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni looks on as she attends a ceremony to mark the 163rd anniversary of the Italian Army, in Rome, Italy, May 3, 2024. (©Reuters/Remo Casilli)*

Following the death of manga artist Monkey Punch on April 11, 2019, Meloni commented on the loss in a Facebook post dated April 17.

"Heartbroken by the news of the passing of the legendary creator of Lupin III. How many people grew up watching this wonderful anime?"

In July 2018, she posted an anime-style illustration of herself on Instagram, apparently a gift from a supporter, captioned "Meloni-chan," adding with characteristic humor, "Does she look like me? Or is she too beautiful?"

In April 2019, Meloni shared an image from Space Pirate Captain Harlock on Facebook, quoting the line, "We will keep on fighting only for what we believe in." She went on to describe the character as "a symbol of a generation that challenged indifference and apathy, and fought those who sought to steal the future." The post coincided with the 40th anniversary of the anime's broadcast in Italy.

Soft Power

Japan–Italy ties date back to early trade in silkworm eggs and mulberry paper. 2026 marks the 160th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, sometimes described as a "quasi-alliance" bound by maritime connections.

In February 2024, then–Prime Minister Fumio Kishida presented Meloni with a Japan–Italy dictionary featuring Hello Kitty during her visit to Japan, reportedly so that her daughter could study Japanese. Kishida had previously gifted Meloni a Hello Kitty plush toy for her daughter during the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May 2023.

*Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands following their summit meeting, at the Prime Minister's Office on February 5, 2024. (©Sankei by Hideyuki Matsui)*

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has likewise emphasized hospitality as a diplomatic tool. During South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's recent visit to Japan, which concluded on January 14, she arranged events such as a drum session.

January 15 also marks Meloni's 49th birthday, prompting speculation on social media about a possible surprise gesture from Prime Minister Takaichi. Cultural exchange through Japanese pop culture, anime included, may yet play a small but symbolic role in this diplomatic encounter.

(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: Shimpei Okuhara, The Sankei Shimbun