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To numerous female youth in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's first ever woman leader is impactful and influential.

This signifies a patriarchal society and a political system that has historically been controlled by men is now led by a woman.

However, although the optics speak of a progressive moment, some women do not view her as an advocate for change.

It was rather fascinating to observe how individuals beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the news,” a 21-year-old says.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a great opportunity for female advancement and equal rights in Japan’.

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

Instead, the young woman points to her “political beliefs and what she represents,” adding: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

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

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Analysts note her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to attract the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has long stood against legislation that would permit spouses to have different last names, blocking many females from keeping their birth surnames.

She's also against women being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

However, she moderated certain her messaging during her campaign – stating she supports giving financial benefits to companies that offer daycare services to their staff and mentioned potential deductions for families spending on childcare.

Yet she has over the years supported the idea of a conventional position for females in society and in the family.

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

The Country's Inequality in Context

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

Based on the 2025 equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th among 148 countries, with women's presence in the field of politics particularly minimal.

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

The globally fourth biggest economy places last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the share of females in its legislative body. In detail, females constitute 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 form of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 countries – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Landmark Appointment

Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could change how females view their prospects.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister assuming the role of prime minister, with a broader impact on society,” a former mayor – who became the nation's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan having a woman prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is normal to “stand out” as leaders in companies and the community, despite gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, it is important to recall it required her more than 30 years to get to that office.

“She's also not truly challenging the norm. She expresses the same thing as the men.”

The young woman adds that she ought not be placed on a pedestal simply because she is a woman.

“It is essential to ensure we're discussing her policies. We need to be capable of criticise her equally as everyone else.”

Ideological Context and Associations

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

It's also apparent by which individuals her champions inside the party have been.

She's the protégé of the late former conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most powerful conservative blocs.

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

“I do feel that it is challenging for women to somewhat relate to her achievement because it furthers this notion that we must be compliant with the existing system,” 21-year-old a citizen remarks.

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

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

Future Obstacles and Anticipations

Making history, however, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will face – not least addressing a sluggish economy and rising prices and regaining the confidence of a discontented and irate electorate, as in addition to welcoming the US leader within days of taking power.

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