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To numerous young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's inaugural female leader is powerful and formative.

It means a patriarchal society and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a woman.

But while the optics suggest a progressive moment, some women do not view her as an advocate for change.

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

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a significant chance for female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.

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

Instead, Ms Ogura points to her “ideological stance and what she represents,” noting: “She reinforces the patriarchal system.”

A strong admirer 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 tactical move from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the more conservative supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has long stood against laws that would allow spouses to have different last names, blocking many women from keeping their birth surnames.

She's also against women being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

However, she did soften certain her messaging during her election bid – saying she supports giving financial benefits to companies that provide childcare facilities to their employees and spoke of possible deductions for households investing in childcare.

Yet she has over the years backed the idea of a more traditional role for females in the community and in the family.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar record on gender issues.

The Country's Inequality in Context

Women in Japan are some of the most highly educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they struggle with the demands of a traditional culture that still pushes them into conventional positions.

Based on the 2025 equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th out of among nearly 150 nations, with female representation in the political arena particularly minimal.

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has faced difficulties to boost the quantity of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The world's fourth largest economic power places last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the share of women in its national parliament. Specifically, women make up about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: only this week was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a type of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 nations – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Historic Leadership

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could alter how females perceive their opportunities.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” a former mayor – who was elected as the country's youngest female mayor in 2012 – told 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 normal to “excel” as leaders in companies and society, despite biased expectations and expectations still persist.

But Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is notable Japan has its first female leader, one must remember it took her over three decades to reach that office.

“Additionally, she is not truly challenging the grain. She expresses the identical views as the male politicians.”

The young woman adds that she ought not be placed on a pedestal simply because she is a woman.

“We need to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We need to be capable of evaluate her fairly as everyone else.”

Ideological Background and Associations

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

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

She's the protégé of the late ex- conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the party vote by a senior politician – a prominent member in the ruling party at the head of one of the ruling party's most influential right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is challenging for women to somewhat identify with her success because it promotes this notion that we must be compliant with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

The 21-year-old concurs, saying that with her as a figurehead for women in government, “people are going to expect the same from women as well”.

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

Future Challenges and Expectations

Making history, though, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will face – including addressing a slow growth and inflation and regaining the confidence of a frustrated and irate electorate, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within days of assuming office.

It's safe to say that no-one expects gender equality issues to be a top priority on her priority list.