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To numerous female youth in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's inaugural woman prime minister is impactful and influential.

This signifies a patriarchal society and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is now led by a female.

However, although the optics speak of a progressive moment, some women do not view her as an champion of progress.

“It was quite fascinating to observe how individuals beyond Japan's borders have responded to the announcement,” 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 female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.

“I think that's a rather simplistic view.”

Instead, the young woman points to her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” noting: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

A big fan of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her nation.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Analysts note her leadership is a tactical move from the ruling LDP to appeal to the more conservative base which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

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

She's also against women being in line for succession in the royal household.

However, she moderated some of her messaging during her campaign – stating she supports giving tax incentives to companies that provide daycare services to their staff and mentioned possible tax breaks for families spending on child-rearing.

But she has historically supported the notion of a conventional role for women in society and in the home.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's subpar performance on equality concerns.

Japan's Gender Gap in Perspective

Women in Japan are some of the most highly educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a conservative society that still pushes them into conventional positions.

According to the 2025 equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th among 148 nations, with women's presence in the political arena particularly minimal.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has struggled to boost the number of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economy places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of females in its national parliament. Specifically, females make up about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the lowest figure 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 form of post-coital birth control available without prescription in over ninety countries – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Landmark Appointment

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a pivotal moment that could alter how women perceive their opportunities.

“There is great significance in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” a former mayor – who became the country's youngest female mayor in 2012 – informed local media.

She contended Japan having a woman prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “excel” as leaders in companies and society, despite biased expectations and norms still persist.

But Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is notable Japan has its first female prime minister, it is important to recall it took her over three decades to get to that position.

“Additionally, she is not truly challenging the norm. She's saying the identical views as the male politicians.”

The young woman further states that she shouldn't be put on a platform just due to the fact she is a female.

“We need to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We must be capable of evaluate her equally as all other leaders.”

Political Context and Influences

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

Additionally, it is evident by who her champions inside the party have been.

She's the protégé of the deceased former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a prominent member in the ruling party at the head of one of the government's most powerful right-wing factions.

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

“I believe that it is challenging for women to sort of relate to her success because it promotes this idea that we have to be obedient with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

The 21-year-old agrees, stating that with her as a figurehead for women in politics, “the public are going to expect the same from women as well”.

“They will demand us to be compliant, not oppose the ideals that they have, and it could render our role harder.”

Future Challenges and Expectations

Making history, though, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – including addressing a slow growth and rising prices and winning back the confidence of a discontented and irate electorate, as well as hosting president Trump within a short time of taking power.

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