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To numerous female youth in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's first ever woman prime minister is powerful and formative.

It means a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is now led by a woman.

However, although the optics suggest a forward-thinking era, some women do not view her as an champion of progress.

It was rather interesting to see how people beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the news,” a 21-year-old says.

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

“I think that's a very naive view.”

Instead, Ms Ogura highlights her “political beliefs and what she represents,” adding: “She reinforces the patriarchal system.”

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

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

Analysts note her leadership is a strategic decision from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to attract the increasingly right-leaning base which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has long stood against laws that would allow married couples to have different last names, blocking many females from retaining their birth surnames.

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

Nonetheless, she moderated some of her statements during her campaign – saying she supports giving tax incentives to companies that offer childcare facilities to their employees and spoke of potential deductions for households spending on childcare.

Yet she has historically supported the idea of a more traditional role for females in the community and in the family.

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

The Country's Gender Gap in Perspective

Japanese women are some of the best educated and most skilled in the world and yet they face challenges with the demands of a traditional culture that still pushes them into traditional roles.

Based on the 2025 gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th out of among 148 nations, with female representation in the political arena particularly minimal.

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

The globally fourth biggest economy places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. In detail, women constitute about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it revealed that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception sold over the counter in over ninety nations – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Historic Appointment

Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could change how women perceive their opportunities.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on society,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the country's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – told local media.

She contended Japan electing a woman prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for women and girls, helping them feel it is normal to “excel” as authorities in businesses 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 took her over three decades to get to that position.

“Additionally, she is not really challenging the grain. She expresses the same thing as the male politicians.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she shouldn't be put on a platform just due to the fact she is a female.

“It is essential to ensure we're discussing her agenda. We must be able to evaluate her fairly as everyone else.”

Political Background and Influences

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

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

She's the protégé of the late former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was backed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most influential right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is challenging for females to somewhat relate to her achievement because it promotes this notion that we must be obedient with the existing system,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi remarks.

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

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

Future Obstacles and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, though, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will face – not least tackling a sluggish economy and inflation and regaining the confidence of a frustrated and angry electorate, as in addition to hosting president Trump 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 priority list.