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

This signifies a male-oriented culture and a political system that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a female.

However, although the optics suggest a progressive moment, certain females don't see her as an champion of progress.

It was rather fascinating to see how individuals outside Japan have reacted to the news,” a 21-year-old says.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan’.

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

Conversely, Ms Ogura points to her “ideological stance and what she represents,” adding: “She reinforces the patriarchal system.”

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

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch right-wing politician.

Observers say her leadership is a tactical move 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 same-sex marriage and has long stood against legislation that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many women from keeping their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is opposed to females being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she moderated certain her messaging during her election bid – saying she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that provide childcare facilities to their staff and spoke of potential tax breaks for households spending on child-rearing.

Yet she has historically supported the idea of a more traditional position for females in the community and in the home.

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

Japan's Gender Gap in Context

Japanese women are among the most highly educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they struggle with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into conventional positions.

Based on the 2025 equality ranking by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th out of among 148 countries, with women's presence in the field of politics notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has struggled to boost the quantity of women legislators and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economy places last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of women in its legislative body. Specifically, females constitute about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a type of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in more than 90 countries – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Historic Leadership

Nonetheless, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could alter how females view their opportunities.

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” a former mayor – who was elected as the nation's youngest female mayor in 2012 – informed local media.

Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is normal to “excel” as leaders in businesses and society, despite gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.

But Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female prime minister, one must remember it required her over three decades to get to that office.

“She's also not truly challenging the grain. She's saying the identical views as the men.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa adds that she ought not be placed on a pedestal simply because she is a female.

“We need to ensure we're talking about her policies. We need to be capable of criticise her equally as all other leaders.”

Political Context and Associations

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

It's also evident by who her supporters inside the party have been.

She's the protégé of the deceased ex- hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the party vote by a senior politician – a senior figure in the LDP at the head of one of the ruling party's most influential conservative blocs.

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Challenges and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, however, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a slow growth and rising prices and regaining the confidence of a frustrated and angry electorate, as well as hosting president Trump within days of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate women's rights matters to be high on her priority list.