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To numerous female youth in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's inaugural female prime minister is impactful and formative.

This signifies a patriarchal society and a political system that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a female.

But while the optics suggest a progressive moment, certain females don't see her as an champion of progress.

“It was quite interesting to see how people outside Japan have reacted to the news,” a 21-year-old states.

“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 gender equality in Japan’.

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

Conversely, the young woman points to her “ideological stance and what she represents,” adding: “She reinforces the patriarchal system.”

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

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Analysts note her leadership is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to attract the more conservative supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has long stood against legislation that would allow spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many women from keeping their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is against women being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she did soften some of her statements during her campaign – stating she favours giving financial benefits to companies that provide daycare services to their employees and spoke of potential deductions for families investing in child-rearing.

But she has over the years supported the idea of a more traditional role for females in society and in the family.

When it comes to women's issues, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's subpar performance on gender issues.

The Country's Gender Gap in Perspective

Women in Japan are among the most highly educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they face challenges with the demands of a traditional culture that still pushes them into traditional roles.

Based on the 2025 gender gap index by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th among 148 countries, with women's presence 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 corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economic power ranks last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of women in its legislative body. Specifically, females constitute about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 countries – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Historic Leadership

Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could change how women view their opportunities.

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who became the country's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is normal to “excel” as authorities in companies and the community, even as gender-based stereotypes and expectations still persist.

But a 20-year-old points out that, while it is notable Japan has its first female prime minister, one must remember it took her over three decades to get to that position.

“She's also not truly going against the norm. She expresses the identical views as the men.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa adds that she ought not be placed on a platform simply because she is a woman.

“We need to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We must be able to criticise her fairly as all other leaders.”

Ideological Context and Associations

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 apparent by who her supporters within the LDP have were.

She's the protégé of the deceased former conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was backed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the LDP at the head of one of the ruling party's most powerful right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is difficult for females to somewhat identify with her achievement because it furthers this idea that we have to be compliant with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

Ms Ogura agrees, saying that with her as a figurehead for females in government, “the public are likely to anticipate the identical from us as well”.

“They will demand women to be compliant, not go against the ideals that they have, and it might make our role harder.”

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, however, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – including addressing a sluggish economy and rising prices and winning back the confidence of a frustrated and irate voting public, as well as hosting president Trump within a short time of assuming office.

It's safe to say that no-one expects women's rights matters to be high on her priority list.