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

It means a patriarchal society and a political system that has historically been controlled by men is now led by a female.

However, although the appearances suggest a forward-thinking era, certain females do not view her as an advocate for change.

It was rather interesting to observe how people beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the announcement,” Ayda Ogura states.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for female advancement 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 perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

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

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Analysts note her leadership is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to attract the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has consistently voted against legislation that would allow spouses to have different last names, preventing many females from keeping their maiden names.

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

Nonetheless, she did soften certain her statements during her campaign – saying she supports giving financial benefits to businesses that offer childcare facilities to their staff and mentioned possible deductions for families investing in child-rearing.

Yet she has over the years backed the notion of a more traditional role for women in the community and in the home.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's less than impressive performance on gender issues.

Japan's Gender Gap in Context

Women in Japan are some of the best educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they face challenges with the demands of a traditional culture that still directs them into traditional roles.

According to the 2025 equality ranking by the global organization, Japan placed 118th among nearly 150 countries, with female representation in the political arena particularly minimal.

Leadership positions have historically been held by men and Japan has struggled to boost the number of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The world's fourth largest economy places at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the share of women in its national parliament. Specifically, women make up about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: only this week was it revealed that the “morning after” pill – a form of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in over ninety nations – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

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

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” Naomi Koshi – who became the country's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – told local media.

Koshi argued Japan electing a female prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is normal to “stand out” as leaders in businesses and the community, even as gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.

However a 20-year-old points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to reach that office.

“Additionally, she is not truly challenging the grain. She's saying the identical views as the men.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states 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 must be capable of criticise her equally as all other leaders.”

Ideological Context and Influences

It is not only what Takaichi has said which has caused individuals to describe her as a defender of the patriarchy.

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

She's the protégé of the late ex- hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the LDP at the leadership of one of the government's most influential conservative blocs.

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

“I do feel that it is difficult for females to somewhat relate to her success because it furthers this idea that we must be obedient with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

Ms Ogura concurs, saying that with her as a figurehead for females in politics, “people are likely to anticipate the identical from women as too”.

“They're going to expect women to be compliant, not oppose the beliefs that they have, and it could render our role more difficult.”

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, though, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a slow growth and rising prices and winning back the confidence of a discontented and irate voting public, as well as welcoming president Trump within a short time of assuming office.

It's safe to say that few anticipate gender equality issues to be high on her priority list.