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For many young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's first ever female prime minister is powerful and influential.

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, certain females do not view her as an champion of progress.

It was rather interesting to see how individuals outside Japan have responded to the announcement,” Ayda Ogura says.

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’.

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

Instead, the young woman points to her “political beliefs and what she represents,” noting: “She reinforces the patriarchal system.”

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

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

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

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

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

Nonetheless, she did soften some of her statements during her election bid – saying she favours giving tax incentives to companies that provide daycare services to their employees and spoke of potential tax breaks for households investing in childcare.

Yet she has historically backed the idea of a more traditional role for females in society and in the home.

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

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 demands of a conservative society that still directs them into conventional positions.

According to the 2025 equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among 148 nations, with female representation in the field of politics notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of women legislators and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economic power places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. Specifically, females constitute about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of post-coital birth control available without prescription in more than 90 countries – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Historic Appointment

Even so, some see Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could alter how women perceive their prospects.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” a former mayor – who was elected as the nation's youngest female city leader in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan electing a female prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as authorities in companies and society, despite biased expectations and norms still persist.

However a 20-year-old notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, one must remember it required her over three decades to reach that office.

“Additionally, she is not really going against the norm. She expresses the same thing as the men.”

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

“It is essential to ensure we're talking about her policies. We must be capable of evaluate her fairly as everyone else.”

Political Background and Influences

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

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

She's the protégé of the deceased former hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the party vote by a senior politician – a prominent member in the LDP at the leadership of one of the government's most influential right-wing factions.

Their group's support for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in consolidating the conservative wing behind her.

“I believe that it is difficult for women to somewhat relate to her achievement because it promotes this notion that we must be compliant with the status quo,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi remarks.

The 21-year-old agrees, stating that with her as a symbol for females in politics, “people are likely to anticipate the same from women as too”.

“They're going to expect women to be compliant, not go against the ideals that they have, and it might make our job harder.”

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, however, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – including tackling a sluggish economy and rising prices and regaining the confidence of a discontented and irate voting public, as well as hosting the US leader within a short time of assuming office.

It's safe to say that no-one expects women's rights matters to be a top priority on her agenda.