Growing social media interest in prime minister Sanae Takaichi appears to have significantly influenced Japan’s lower house election on 8 February, contributing to a decisive victory for her Liberal Democratic Party. Many voters reported seeing daily clips of her speeches and travel despite chronic illness, creating familiarity and sympathy. Her personal X account gained far more followers than other party leaders, with spikes occurring even during controversy over a missed debate due to medical treatment. Supporters’ viral posts often countered criticism, amplifying positive perceptions. On YouTube, campaign-related videos featuring Takaichi attracted extraordinary engagement, including an advertisement viewed over 150 million times. Independent creators further boosted her visibility, producing most election-related content online. Exit polls showed nearly a quarter of voters relied primarily on social media when deciding how to vote, with strong shifts toward the ruling party among them. Online popularity appears to have translated directly into ballots cast.