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To numerous female youth in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's first ever female prime minister is impactful and formative.

It means a patriarchal society and a political system that has long been dominated 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 quite fascinating to observe how individuals beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the news,” Ayda Ogura says.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman 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 rather simplistic view.”

Instead, Ms Ogura highlights her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” noting: “She reinforces the male-dominated structure.”

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

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Analysts note her ascension is a tactical move from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to attract the more conservative base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has long stood against laws that would allow spouses to have different last names, blocking many females from keeping their birth surnames.

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

However, she did soften some of her messaging during her election bid – stating she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that provide childcare facilities to their staff and spoke of potential deductions for families investing in child-rearing.

Yet she has historically backed the notion of a more traditional position for females in the community and in the home.

When it comes to women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar performance on gender issues.

The Country's Gender Gap in Context

Japanese women are some of the best educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they face challenges with the expectations 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 nearly 150 countries, with women's presence in the field of politics notably low.

Top roles have historically been held by males and Japan has struggled to boost the quantity of women legislators and business leaders.

The world's fourth largest economy ranks last among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. Specifically, women constitute about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: recently 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 Leadership

Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could alter how females perceive their prospects.

“There is great significance in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” Naomi Koshi – who became the nation's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – told local media.

Koshi argued Japan having a female prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “excel” as leaders in businesses and society, despite gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.

But Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, one must remember it required her more than 30 years to get to that office.

“Additionally, she is not truly challenging the grain. She expresses the same thing as the men.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa adds 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 talking about her policies. We must be able to criticise her fairly as all other leaders.”

Ideological Context and Influences

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

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

She's the protégé of the late former conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the party vote by a senior politician – a prominent member in the ruling party at the head of one of the government's most influential conservative blocs.

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

“I do feel that it is challenging for women to sort of identify with her success because it furthers this idea that we must be obedient with the existing system,” 21-year-old a citizen remarks.

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

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

Upcoming Challenges and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, though, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a slow growth and inflation and winning back the confidence of a discontented and angry electorate, as in addition to hosting president Trump within days of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate gender equality issues to be a top priority on her priority list.