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For many young girls in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's inaugural woman leader is impactful and formative.

This signifies a patriarchal society and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a female.

But while the optics suggest a progressive moment, certain females do not view her as an advocate for change.

“It was quite fascinating to see how individuals outside Japan have responded to the announcement,” a 21-year-old states.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a significant chance for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan’.

“I think that's a very naive view.”

Conversely, the young woman points to her “political beliefs and what she represents,” adding: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

A big fan of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her nation.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch right-wing politician.

Observers say her ascension is a tactical move from the governing LDP to attract the more conservative base which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has long stood against laws that would permit married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many females from keeping their maiden names.

She's also against women being in eligible for the throne in the royal household.

However, she did soften certain her statements during her campaign – stating she favours giving tax incentives to companies that offer childcare facilities to their employees and spoke of potential tax breaks for families investing in childcare.

Yet she has historically backed the notion of a conventional position for females in society and in the family.

When it comes to women's issues, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's subpar performance on gender issues.

Japan's Gender Gap in Perspective

Japanese women are some of the best educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they face challenges with the demands of a traditional culture that still pushes them into conventional positions.

Based on the 2025 equality ranking by the global organization, Japan placed 118th out of among nearly 150 nations, with female representation in the political arena notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has struggled to increase the number of women legislators and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economy places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of women in its national parliament. In detail, women make up about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it revealed that the “morning after” pill – a type of emergency contraception sold over the counter in more than 90 countries – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Landmark Appointment

Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could change how females perceive their prospects.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the country's youngest female mayor in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is normal to “excel” as authorities in companies and society, despite gender-based stereotypes and norms still remain.

But Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, it is important to recall it took her more than 30 years to reach that office.

“She's also not really going against the norm. She expresses the same thing as the men.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she ought not be placed on a pedestal just due to the fact she is a woman.

“We need to ensure we're talking about her policies. We need to be able to evaluate her fairly as all other leaders.”

Political Background and Influences

It is not only what Takaichi has said which has caused individuals to describe her as a supporter of the patriarchy.

Additionally, it is apparent by who her champions within the LDP have been.

She's the protégé of the late ex- hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was backed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a prominent member in the LDP at the head of one of the government's most powerful right-wing factions.

His faction's backing for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in uniting the party's right wing behind her.

“I do feel that it is difficult for women to sort of relate to her achievement because it promotes this notion that we have to be compliant with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi says.

The 21-year-old agrees, stating that with her as a figurehead for females in politics, “the public are going to expect the same from women as too”.

“They're going to expect women to be compliant, not oppose the beliefs that they hold, and it could render our role harder.”

Future Obstacles and Expectations

Making history, however, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will face – including addressing a sluggish economy and inflation and regaining the trust of a discontented and irate electorate, as in addition to hosting the US leader within days of taking power.

It's safe to say that no-one expects gender equality issues to be high on her priority list.