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For many young girls in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's inaugural female leader is impactful and influential.

This signifies a patriarchal society and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is now led by a female.

But while the appearances speak of a forward-thinking era, some women do not view her as an champion of progress.

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

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

“I think that's a rather simplistic view.”

Instead, the young woman points to her “ideological stance and what she represents,” noting: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

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

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

Observers say her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the more conservative base which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

The leader is against marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many females from retaining their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is against women being in line for succession in the royal household.

Nonetheless, she did soften some of her messaging during her election bid – saying she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that offer daycare services to their employees and spoke of possible tax breaks for households investing in child-rearing.

But she has over the years backed the notion of a more traditional role for females in society and in the family.

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

Japan's Gender Gap in Perspective

Japanese women are among the most highly educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they face challenges with the demands of a conservative society that still directs them into traditional roles.

Based on the 2025 equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among 148 nations, with women's presence 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 economic power ranks last among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. 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: recently was it revealed that the “morning after” pill – a form of post-coital birth control available without prescription in over ninety countries – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Landmark Appointment

Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could alter 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 society,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the nation's youngest female mayor in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan having a female prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is normal to “excel” as leaders in businesses and society, despite biased expectations and expectations still persist.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to get to that office.

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

The young woman adds that she shouldn't be put on a platform just due to the fact she is a female.

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

Ideological Background and Associations

It is not just what Takaichi has stated which has caused individuals to describe her as a defender of the male-dominated system.

It's also evident by who her supporters within the LDP have been.

She's the protégé of the deceased ex- conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the LDP at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most influential right-wing factions.

Their group's support for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in uniting the party's right wing in her favor.

“I believe that it is challenging for females to sort of identify with her success because it furthers this idea that we must be compliant with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

The 21-year-old concurs, saying that with her as a symbol for females in government, “the public are going to expect the identical from women as too”.

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

Upcoming 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 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 gender equality issues to be high on her agenda.