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To numerous young girls in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's first ever woman prime minister is impactful and influential.

This signifies a patriarchal society and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is now led by a woman.

But while the optics suggest a forward-thinking era, certain females do not view her as an champion of progress.

It was rather interesting to observe how people beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the news,” Ayda Ogura says.

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 highlights her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” adding: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

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

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Observers say her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to attract the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against marriage equality and has long stood against laws that would allow spouses to have separate surnames, blocking many females from keeping their birth surnames.

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

Nonetheless, she moderated certain her messaging during her campaign – stating she supports giving financial benefits to companies that provide daycare services to their employees and spoke of possible tax breaks for families spending on childcare.

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

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

The Country's Inequality in Context

Women in Japan are some of the most highly educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they struggle with the demands of a traditional culture that still directs them into conventional positions.

Based on the 2025 gender gap index by the global organization, Japan placed 118th out of among 148 countries, with female representation in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Leadership positions have historically been held by males and Japan has faced difficulties to boost the quantity of women legislators and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economy places last among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of females in its legislative body. Specifically, females make up about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 countries – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Landmark Leadership

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could alter how women view their opportunities.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” a former mayor – who became the nation's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan electing a female prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as authorities in companies and the community, despite biased expectations and expectations still persist.

But Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, it is important to recall it took her more than 30 years to get to that position.

“Additionally, she is not really going against the grain. She expresses the same thing as the male politicians.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa adds that she shouldn't be put on a platform simply because she is a woman.

“It is essential to make sure we're talking about her policies. We must be able to evaluate her equally as everyone else.”

Ideological Context and Influences

It is not just what Takaichi has said which has led people to label her as a supporter of the patriarchy.

Additionally, it is apparent by who her supporters inside the party have were.

She's the protégé of the late former conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was backed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the LDP at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most influential conservative blocs.

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

“I believe that it is difficult for women to sort of identify with her success because it furthers this idea that we must be compliant with the status quo,” 21-year-old a citizen says.

Ms Ogura concurs, saying that with her as a symbol for women in government, “the public are likely to anticipate the identical from women as well”.

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

Upcoming Obstacles and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, however, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least addressing a slow growth and rising prices and winning back the trust of a discontented and irate voting public, as in addition to hosting president Trump within a short time of assuming office.

It's safe to say that few anticipate gender equality issues to be high on her priority list.