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To numerous female youth in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's first ever female 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 woman.

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

“It was quite fascinating to see how people outside Japan have responded to the announcement,” a 21-year-old states.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a significant chance for women empowerment 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,” adding: “She reinforces the male-dominated structure.”

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

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch right-wing politician.

Analysts note her ascension is a strategic decision from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the more conservative base which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would permit spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many women from retaining their maiden names.

Additionally, she is opposed to women being in line for succession in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she moderated certain her statements during her campaign – stating she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that provide childcare facilities to their staff and spoke of possible deductions for households investing in childcare.

Yet she has historically supported the idea of a conventional position for women in the community and in the home.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her country's subpar performance on gender issues.

Japan's Gender Gap in Perspective

Japanese women are some of the most highly educated and most skilled in the world and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into conventional positions.

Based on the 2025 equality ranking by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th among 148 countries, with female representation in the political arena notably low.

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

The globally fourth biggest economic power places last among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. Specifically, women constitute about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in over ninety countries – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses 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 broader impact on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who became the nation's youngest female city leader in 2012 – informed local media.

Koshi argued Japan electing a female prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “excel” as leaders in companies and the community, despite biased expectations and norms still remain.

But Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, it is important to recall it required her more than 30 years to reach that office.

“She's also not really challenging the grain. She expresses the same thing as the men.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she shouldn't be put on a pedestal simply because she is a woman.

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

Political Context and Associations

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

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

She was mentored of the late former conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the LDP at the head of one of the government's most powerful right-wing factions.

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

“I believe that it is difficult for females to somewhat relate to her achievement because it furthers this idea that we have to be obedient with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi says.

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

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

Future Obstacles and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, though, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – not least tackling a slow growth and rising prices and regaining the trust of a frustrated and irate electorate, as in addition to welcoming the US leader within a short time of taking power.

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