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For many young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's inaugural woman leader is powerful and formative.

It means a patriarchal society and a political system that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a female.

However, although the optics suggest a progressive moment, some women do not view her as an advocate for change.

“It was quite fascinating to see how people beyond Japan's borders have responded to the announcement,” a 21-year-old states.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a significant chance for female advancement and equal rights in Japan’.

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

Conversely, the young woman points to her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” noting: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

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

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

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

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would permit spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many females from retaining their birth surnames.

She's also opposed to women being in line for succession in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she did soften some of her messaging during her campaign – saying she favours giving financial benefits to companies that offer childcare facilities to their staff 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 the community and in the family.

When it comes to women's issues, Takaichi is consistent with her country's less than impressive performance on equality concerns.

The Country's Gender Gap in Perspective

Japanese women 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.

According to the 2025 equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th among nearly 150 countries, with women's presence in the political arena notably low.

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has struggled to boost the quantity of women legislators and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economic power places last among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of females in its national parliament. Specifically, females make up about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it announced that the “emergency” pill – a type of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 countries – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

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

“There is great significance in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who became the country's youngest female city leader in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan having a female prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is normal to “excel” as authorities in businesses and the community, even as biased expectations and expectations still persist.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female prime minister, it is important to recall it required her more than 30 years to get to that office.

“She's also not truly going against the grain. She's saying the identical views as the male politicians.”

The young woman further states that she ought not be placed on a platform simply because she is a woman.

“We need to make sure we're talking about her policies. We must be able to criticise her fairly as all other leaders.”

Ideological Background and Influences

It is not only what Takaichi has said which has led people to label her as a defender of the male-dominated system.

It's also apparent by which individuals her supporters within the LDP have been.

She was mentored of the late former conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a prominent member in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the government's most powerful right-wing factions.

Their group's support for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in consolidating the party's right wing behind her.

“I believe that it is difficult for women to sort of relate to her achievement because it furthers this notion that we must be compliant with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

The 21-year-old agrees, saying that with her as a figurehead for women in politics, “people are going to expect the identical from women as too”.

“They're going to expect women to be conforming, not go against the ideals that they have, and it might make our job more difficult.”

Future Obstacles and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, though, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a slow growth and rising prices and winning back the trust of a frustrated and irate electorate, as in addition to hosting the US leader within days of assuming office.

It's safe to say that few anticipate women's rights matters to be a top priority on her agenda.