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For many female youth in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's first ever female leader is impactful and formative.

It means a patriarchal society and a political system that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a female.

However, although the appearances suggest a forward-thinking era, some women don't see her as an advocate for change.

It was rather fascinating to see how individuals beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the news,” a 21-year-old states.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan’.

“I think that's a very naive view.”

Conversely, the young woman highlights her “ideological stance and what she represents,” adding: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

A strong admirer 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 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 permit married couples to have different last names, preventing many females from keeping their maiden names.

Additionally, she is against women being in eligible for the throne in the royal household.

Nonetheless, she did soften certain her statements during her campaign – saying she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that offer daycare services to their employees and mentioned possible deductions for families spending on childcare.

But she has historically supported the notion of a more traditional role for women in society and in the family.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's less than impressive performance on gender issues.

The Country's Gender Gap in Perspective

Women in Japan are among the best educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into traditional roles.

According to the 2025 gender gap index by the global organization, Japan placed 118th out of among nearly 150 nations, with women's presence in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Top roles have historically been held by males and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of women legislators and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economic power ranks at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. In detail, women make up about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception available without prescription in over ninety nations – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Landmark Leadership

Even so, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could alter how women perceive their opportunities.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” a former mayor – who became the country's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan electing a woman prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is normal to “stand out” as leaders in companies and the community, despite biased expectations and norms still remain.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, one must remember it required her over three decades to get to that office.

“She's also not truly challenging the grain. She expresses the same thing as the male politicians.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa adds that she ought not be placed on a platform simply because she is a female.

“It is essential to make sure we're talking about her policies. We need to be able to criticise her fairly as everyone else.”

Ideological Background and Influences

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

It's also evident by which individuals her supporters inside the party have been.

She was mentored of the late former hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the party vote by a senior politician – a senior figure in the LDP at the leadership of one of the government's most influential conservative blocs.

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

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

Ms Ogura agrees, stating that with her as a symbol for women in politics, “people are likely to anticipate the identical from us as too”.

“They're going to expect women to be conforming, not oppose the beliefs that they hold, and it could render our job more difficult.”

Future Challenges and Expectations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a sluggish economy and inflation and winning back the confidence of a frustrated and angry voting public, 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 agenda.