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For many young girls in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's first ever woman prime minister is powerful and influential.

It means a male-oriented culture and a political system that has long been dominated by men is now led by a female.

But while the appearances speak of a progressive moment, certain females don't see her as an champion of progress.

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

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.”

Conversely, Ms Ogura points to her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” adding: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

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

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Observers say her leadership is a tactical move from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the more conservative supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would permit married couples to have different last names, preventing many females from keeping their maiden names.

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

Nonetheless, she did soften certain her statements during her election bid – saying she supports giving financial benefits to businesses that offer childcare facilities to their staff and spoke of possible tax breaks for households spending on child-rearing.

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

When it comes to women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar record on equality concerns.

Japan'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 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 out of among 148 nations, with women's presence in the political arena notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the number of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The world's fourth largest economic power places at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. In detail, women make up about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a type of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 countries – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Historic Leadership

Nonetheless, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could alter how females perceive their prospects.

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

Koshi argued Japan having a woman prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as authorities in companies and society, even as biased expectations and expectations still remain.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is notable Japan has its first female leader, one must remember it took her over three decades to reach that position.

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

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

“It is essential to make sure we're talking about her agenda. We must be capable of criticise her equally as all other leaders.”

Ideological Background and Associations

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

Additionally, it is evident by who her champions within the LDP have been.

She's the protégé of the deceased ex- hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a senior figure in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most powerful conservative blocs.

Their group's backing for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in consolidating the party's right wing in her favor.

“I do feel that it is challenging for females to somewhat identify with her success because it promotes this idea that we have to be obedient with the status quo,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi says.

Ms Ogura concurs, stating that with her as a symbol for women in government, “the public are going to expect the same from us as too”.

“They're going to expect us to be compliant, not oppose the ideals that they hold, and it might make our role more difficult.”

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, though, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – including tackling a slow growth and inflation and winning back the trust of a frustrated and angry voting public, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within days of taking power.

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