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For many young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's inaugural woman leader is powerful and influential.

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

However, although the appearances speak of a progressive moment, certain females do not view her as an champion of progress.

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

“Everyone's like, ‘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’.

In my opinion that's a very naive interpretation.”

Instead, Ms Ogura points to her “ideological stance and what she represents,” noting: “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 staunch right-wing politician.

Analysts note her leadership is a tactical move from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to attract the more conservative base which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has long stood against legislation that would permit spouses to have different last names, blocking many women from retaining their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is opposed to females being in line for succession in the royal household.

However, she did soften some of her messaging during her election bid – stating she supports giving tax incentives to companies that offer daycare services to their staff and spoke of possible deductions for families spending on child-rearing.

Yet she has over the years backed the idea of a conventional position for women in the community and in the family.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her country's subpar record on equality concerns.

The Country's Inequality in Perspective

Japanese women are some of the most highly educated and most skilled in the world and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into conventional positions.

Based on the 2025 gender gap index by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th out of among nearly 150 countries, with female representation in the field of politics notably low.

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

The globally fourth biggest economy ranks at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its national parliament. Specifically, females constitute about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it announced that the “emergency” pill – a form of emergency contraception sold over the counter in over ninety nations – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Landmark Appointment

Even so, some see Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could alter how women view their opportunities.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the country's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan electing a female prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is normal to “excel” as authorities in companies and society, even as biased expectations and expectations still remain.

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

“She's also not truly challenging the norm. She's saying the identical views as the male politicians.”

The young woman adds that she shouldn't be put on a pedestal simply because she is a female.

“We need to ensure we're talking about her agenda. We need to be capable of evaluate her equally as everyone else.”

Ideological Context and Influences

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

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

She was mentored of the deceased former conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was backed in the party vote by a senior politician – a prominent member in the LDP at the head of one of the ruling party's most influential right-wing factions.

His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in consolidating the conservative wing behind her.

“I do feel that it is difficult for females to somewhat identify with her success because it furthers this idea that we have to be compliant with the status quo,” 21-year-old a citizen says.

The 21-year-old agrees, saying that with her as a symbol for women in government, “the public are going to expect the same from us as well”.

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

Upcoming Obstacles and Anticipations

Making history, though, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will face – including tackling a sluggish economy and inflation and regaining the confidence of a discontented and irate electorate, as in addition to welcoming the US leader within a short time of assuming office.

It's safe to say that few anticipate women's rights matters to be high on her priority list.