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For many young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's first ever female prime minister is powerful and formative.

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

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

“It was quite fascinating to observe how people beyond Japan's borders have responded to the news,” Ayda Ogura says.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman 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 interpretation.”

Instead, the young woman highlights her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” noting: “She reinforces 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 nation.

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

Observers say her leadership is a strategic decision from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to attract the increasingly right-leaning base which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against marriage equality and has long stood against legislation that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many women from retaining their maiden names.

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

However, she did soften some of her messaging during her election bid – saying she supports giving tax incentives to companies that provide daycare services to their employees and mentioned potential deductions for households investing in child-rearing.

But she has over the years supported the notion of a conventional role for women in the community and in the home.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her country's less than impressive performance on gender issues.

The Country's Inequality in Context

Japanese women are some of the most highly educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they face challenges with the demands of a traditional culture that still directs them into conventional positions.

According to the 2025 equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th among nearly 150 nations, with women's presence in the political arena particularly minimal.

Top roles have historically been held by males and Japan has struggled to increase the quantity of women legislators and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economic power ranks last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the share of women in its national parliament. In detail, women make up about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “emergency” pill – a type of post-coital birth control available without prescription in more than 90 countries – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Historic Appointment

Even so, some see 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 society,” a former mayor – who was elected as the nation's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – informed local media.

Koshi argued Japan electing a female prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is normal to “excel” as leaders in companies and society, even as biased expectations and norms still persist.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is notable Japan has its first female leader, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to reach that office.

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

The young woman further states that she ought not be placed on a platform just due to the fact she is a female.

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

Ideological Background and Influences

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

Additionally, it is apparent by which individuals her supporters inside the party have been.

She was mentored of the deceased former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed 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 powerful right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is difficult for women to somewhat relate to her success because it furthers this idea that we must be obedient with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi says.

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

“They're going to expect women to be compliant, not go against the ideals that they hold, and it could render our job harder.”

Upcoming Obstacles and Anticipations

Making history, however, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will face – not least addressing a slow growth and inflation and winning back the confidence of a frustrated and irate voting public, as well as hosting the US leader within a short time of taking power.

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