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To numerous young girls in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's first ever woman prime minister is powerful and influential.

This signifies a patriarchal society and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is now led by a woman.

However, although the appearances speak of a forward-thinking era, some women do not view her as an advocate for change.

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

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a significant chance for female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.

In my opinion that's a very naive interpretation.”

Conversely, the young woman points to her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” adding: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

A big fan of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her country.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Observers say her leadership is a strategic decision from the ruling LDP to attract the more conservative supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against marriage equality and has long stood against laws that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many females from keeping their birth surnames.

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

However, she did soften certain her statements during her election bid – stating she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that offer childcare facilities to their employees and spoke of potential tax breaks for families investing in childcare.

But she has historically backed the notion of a more traditional role for females in the community and in the family.

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

The Country's Inequality in Context

Japanese women are some of the best educated and highest qualified in the world 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 placed 118th among nearly 150 nations, with female representation in the political arena notably low.

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

The globally fourth biggest economy ranks at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of females in its national parliament. Specifically, females constitute about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it revealed that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception sold over the counter in over ninety nations – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Landmark Leadership

Even so, some see Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment 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 became the country's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is normal to “stand out” as leaders in businesses and society, even as gender-based stereotypes and expectations still remain.

But a 20-year-old notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, it is important to recall it took her more than 30 years to get to that position.

“Additionally, she is not really going against the grain. She's saying the identical views as the male politicians.”

The young woman adds that she shouldn't be put on a platform simply because she is a female.

“It is essential to ensure we're talking about her agenda. We must be able to criticise her equally as everyone else.”

Ideological Context and Influences

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

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

She's the protégé of the late former 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 influential conservative blocs.

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

“I believe that it is challenging for females to somewhat relate to her achievement because it furthers this notion that we have to be obedient with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

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

“They will demand women to be compliant, not oppose the ideals that they hold, and it might make our job harder.”

Upcoming Challenges and Expectations

Making history, though, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will face – not least addressing a sluggish economy and rising prices and winning back the trust of a frustrated and angry voting public, as well as 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.