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For many female youth in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership 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 optics suggest a forward-thinking era, certain females don't see her as an champion of progress.

“It was quite interesting to see how people beyond Japan's borders have responded to the news,” a 21-year-old says.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a great opportunity for female advancement and equal rights in Japan’.

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

Instead, the young woman points to her “ideological stance and what she represents,” noting: “She reinforces the male-dominated structure.”

A strong admirer of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Iron Lady” of her country.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Observers say her leadership is a tactical move from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the more conservative supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

The leader is against marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would permit spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many females from retaining their birth surnames.

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

However, she moderated some of her statements during her election bid – stating she supports giving financial benefits to companies that offer daycare services to their employees and mentioned potential tax breaks for families spending on child-rearing.

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

Regarding women's issues, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's subpar performance on gender issues.

The Country's Inequality in Perspective

Japanese women are among the most highly educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a conservative society that still pushes them into traditional roles.

According to the 2025 gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among 148 countries, with female representation in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The globally fourth biggest economic power ranks last among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of women in its national parliament. In detail, women constitute about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of emergency contraception available without prescription in over ninety countries – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Landmark Leadership

Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could alter how females perceive their opportunities.

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

She contended Japan electing a woman prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “stand out” as leaders in companies and society, even as biased expectations and norms still remain.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female prime minister, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to reach that office.

“Additionally, she is not really going against the norm. She's saying the same thing as the men.”

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

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

Political Context 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 which individuals her supporters within the LDP have been.

She was mentored of the late ex- hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a senior figure in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most influential right-wing factions.

His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in consolidating the party's right wing behind her.

“I do feel that it is challenging for women to sort of identify with her success because it furthers this idea that we have to be compliant with the status quo,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi remarks.

Ms Ogura concurs, stating that with her as a figurehead for women in government, “the public are going to expect the identical from women as too”.

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

Future Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, however, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least tackling a sluggish economy and rising prices and regaining the confidence of a frustrated and irate electorate, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within days of assuming office.

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