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For many young girls in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's inaugural female leader is impactful and formative.

It means a patriarchal society and a political system that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a woman.

However, although the optics speak of a forward-thinking era, certain females do not view her as an champion of progress.

It was rather interesting to observe how people outside Japan have reacted to the news,” Ayda Ogura says.

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

“I think that's a very naive view.”

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

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

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Observers say her ascension is a strategic decision from the ruling LDP to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would permit married couples to have separate surnames, blocking many females from retaining their maiden names.

She's also opposed to women being in eligible for the throne in the royal household.

However, she moderated certain her statements during her campaign – stating she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that provide daycare services to their staff and spoke of potential deductions for households spending on child-rearing.

Yet she has historically supported the notion of a conventional role for females in the community and in the family.

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

Japan's Inequality in Perspective

Japanese women are among the best educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they face challenges with the demands of a traditional culture that still pushes them into conventional positions.

According to the 2025 gender gap index by the global organization, Japan placed 118th among 148 nations, with women's presence in the political arena notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of women legislators and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economy ranks at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. Specifically, females constitute about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 nations – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Historic Appointment

Even so, some see Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could alter 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 the public,” a former mayor – who was elected as the nation's youngest female city leader in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended 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 authorities in businesses and society, despite biased expectations and norms still remain.

However a 20-year-old points out that, while it is notable Japan has its first female prime minister, it is important to recall it required her more than 30 years to reach that office.

“Additionally, she is not truly challenging the norm. She's saying the same thing as the male politicians.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she shouldn't be put on a platform simply because she is a woman.

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

Political Background and Influences

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

It's also evident by who her supporters within the LDP have been.

She's the protégé of the late ex- hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a senior figure in the LDP at the head of one of the government's most powerful right-wing factions.

Their group's support for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in consolidating the conservative wing behind her.

“I do feel that it is difficult for women to sort of relate to her success because it promotes this idea that we must be obedient with the existing system,” 21-year-old a citizen says.

Ms Ogura agrees, saying that with her as a figurehead for females in government, “people are going to expect the identical from us as too”.

“They will demand us to be compliant, not go against the beliefs that they hold, and it might make our job more difficult.”

Future Obstacles and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, however, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least addressing a slow growth and inflation and winning back the trust of a frustrated and irate voting public, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within days of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects gender equality issues to be high on her agenda.