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For many female youth in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's inaugural woman leader is powerful and influential.

It means a male-oriented culture and a political system that has long been dominated by men is now led by a female.

But while the appearances suggest a progressive moment, some women do not view her as an advocate for change.

“It was quite fascinating to observe how people beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the news,” Ayda Ogura states.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.

In my opinion that's a rather simplistic interpretation.”

Instead, Ms Ogura highlights her “ideological stance and what she represents,” adding: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

A big fan of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her nation.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Analysts note her ascension is a strategic decision from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the more conservative supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against marriage equality and has long stood against legislation that would permit spouses to have different last names, preventing many women from keeping their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is against females being in eligible for the throne in the royal household.

However, she moderated some of her messaging during her election bid – stating she favours giving tax incentives to companies that offer daycare services to their employees and mentioned possible deductions for families spending on child-rearing.

Yet she has historically backed the notion of a more traditional position for females in society and in the home.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her country's subpar performance on equality concerns.

The Country's Gender Gap in Perspective

Women in Japan are some of the best educated and most skilled in the world and yet they struggle with the demands of a conservative society that still pushes them into conventional positions.

Based on the 2025 equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th among 148 nations, with women's presence in the field of politics notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has struggled to boost the quantity of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economic power ranks last among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of women in its legislative body. Specifically, women constitute about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a form of post-coital birth control available without prescription in more than 90 countries – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Landmark Appointment

Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could change how women perceive their opportunities.

“There is great significance in the new prime minister assuming the role of prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” a former mayor – who was elected as the nation's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – informed local media.

Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as leaders in businesses and society, despite gender-based stereotypes and norms still remain.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, one must remember it required her over three decades to get to that office.

“Additionally, she is not really challenging the grain. She expresses the identical views as the male politicians.”

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

“It is essential to ensure we're discussing her policies. We need to be capable of evaluate her equally as everyone else.”

Ideological Context and Associations

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

Additionally, it is evident by who her champions inside the party have been.

She was mentored of the deceased former hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the ruling party at the head of one of the government's most influential conservative blocs.

Their group's backing for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in uniting the conservative wing in her favor.

“I believe that it is challenging for women to somewhat identify with her success because it promotes this notion that we have to be compliant with the existing system,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi says.

Ms Ogura concurs, saying that with her as a symbol for females in government, “the public are going to expect the identical from us as well”.

“They're going to expect us to be conforming, not oppose the beliefs that they have, and it might make our role more difficult.”

Future Challenges and Expectations

Making history, however, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – not least tackling a slow growth and inflation and winning back the confidence of a discontented and angry voting public, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within days of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects women's rights matters to be high on her priority list.