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For many female youth in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's first ever woman leader is impactful and formative.

It means a patriarchal society and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a female.

But while the appearances speak of a forward-thinking era, some women don't see her as an advocate for change.

It was rather fascinating to see how individuals outside Japan have responded to the news,” a 21-year-old states.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and equal rights in Japan’.

“I think that's a very naive interpretation.”

Conversely, Ms Ogura points to her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” noting: “She reinforces the patriarchal system.”

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

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Analysts note her leadership is a tactical move from the governing LDP to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has long stood against legislation that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many females from retaining their maiden names.

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

However, she moderated some of her messaging during her campaign – saying she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that offer childcare facilities to their employees and mentioned potential tax breaks for families spending on child-rearing.

But she has over the years supported the idea of a more traditional position for women in the community and in the family.

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

Japan's Gender Gap in Perspective

Japanese women are among the best educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they struggle with the expectations of a conservative society that still directs 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 notably low.

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has struggled to boost the number of women legislators and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economic power ranks last among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. In detail, females make up about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a form of post-coital birth control available without prescription in more than 90 nations – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's rise to power as a pivotal moment that could change how females perceive their prospects.

“There is great significance in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the nation's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan electing a female prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as leaders in businesses and society, despite biased expectations and expectations still persist.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, it is important to recall it took her over three decades to get to that position.

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

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

“We need to make sure we're discussing her policies. We need to be able to evaluate her equally as all other leaders.”

Ideological Context and Associations

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

It's also apparent by which individuals her champions within the LDP have were.

She was mentored of the late former hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was backed 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 powerful right-wing factions.

His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in uniting the party's right wing in her favor.

“I believe that it is challenging for females to sort of identify with her achievement because it promotes this notion that we must be compliant with the status quo,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi says.

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

“They're going to expect women to be conforming, not oppose the beliefs that they hold, and it might make our role harder.”

Future Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, though, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least tackling a slow growth and inflation and regaining the trust of a frustrated and irate voting public, as well as welcoming president Trump within a short time of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects women's rights matters to be high on her priority list.