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For many female youth in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's first ever woman leader is powerful and formative.

It means a male-oriented culture and a political system that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a female.

However, although the appearances 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 reacted to the announcement,” Ayda Ogura states.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan’.

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

Instead, Ms Ogura highlights her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” adding: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

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

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Observers say her leadership is a strategic decision from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to attract the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has consistently voted against laws that would permit spouses to have different last names, blocking many females from keeping their maiden names.

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

However, she did soften some of her statements during her campaign – saying she supports giving tax incentives to companies that offer childcare facilities to their staff and mentioned potential tax breaks for families investing in childcare.

But she has historically backed the notion of a more traditional position for females in the community and in the home.

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

The Country's Gender Gap in Context

Women in Japan are among the most highly educated and most skilled in the world and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a conservative society that still pushes them into traditional roles.

Based on the 2025 equality ranking by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th out of among nearly 150 countries, with women's presence in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to boost the quantity of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The world's fourth largest economy ranks last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of females in its national parliament. Specifically, women make up about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the lowest figure among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a type of post-coital birth control available without prescription in over ninety countries – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Landmark Leadership

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

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who became the country's youngest female city leader in 2012 – told local media.

Koshi argued Japan having a woman prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “stand out” as authorities in companies and society, even as biased expectations and expectations still persist.

But Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out 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 adds that she ought not be placed on a pedestal just due to the fact she is a female.

“It is essential to ensure we're talking about her agenda. We must be able to criticise her fairly as everyone else.”

Political Context and Influences

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

It's also apparent by which individuals her supporters inside the party 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 senior figure in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most influential conservative blocs.

His faction's backing for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in consolidating the conservative wing in her favor.

“I do feel that it is challenging for females to somewhat relate to her success because it promotes this notion that we have to be obedient with the existing system,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi says.

The 21-year-old agrees, stating that with her as a symbol for women in government, “people are likely to anticipate the identical from us as well”.

“They will demand women to be compliant, not go against the ideals that they hold, and it could render our role more difficult.”

Upcoming Obstacles and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, however, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a sluggish economy and rising prices and regaining the trust of a discontented and angry voting public, as in addition to hosting president Trump within days of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate gender equality issues to be a top priority on her agenda.