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For many female youth in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's first ever female prime minister is impactful and formative.

This signifies a patriarchal society and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is now led by a woman.

But while the appearances speak of a progressive moment, some women do not view her as an champion of progress.

“It was quite interesting to observe how individuals beyond Japan's borders have responded to the news,” Ayda Ogura 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 women empowerment and gender equality in Japan’.

In my opinion that's a rather simplistic interpretation.”

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

A big fan of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her country.

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 appeal to the increasingly right-leaning base which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has long stood against laws that would permit married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many women from retaining their birth surnames.

She's also against women being in line for succession in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she did soften some of her messaging during her campaign – saying she favours giving tax incentives to companies that offer childcare facilities to their employees and spoke of potential deductions for households investing in child-rearing.

But she has over the years backed the notion of a more traditional position for women in the community and in the home.

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

Japan's Inequality in Context

Women in Japan are some of the best educated and most skilled in the world and yet they struggle with the demands of a traditional culture that still directs them into conventional positions.

Based on the 2025 equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among 148 countries, with women's presence in the field of politics particularly minimal.

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

The globally fourth biggest economy ranks last among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. In detail, women constitute about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of emergency contraception sold over the counter in over ninety countries – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Appointment

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could alter how females view their prospects.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on society,” Naomi Koshi – who became the nation's youngest female mayor in 2012 – told local media.

Koshi argued Japan electing a female prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is normal to “stand out” as leaders in businesses and the community, despite biased expectations and expectations still persist.

But a 20-year-old notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, it is important to recall it required her more than 30 years to reach that office.

“Additionally, she is not really challenging the grain. She expresses the identical views as the men.”

The young woman adds that she ought not be placed on a platform simply because she is a female.

“We need to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We must be able to criticise her fairly as all other leaders.”

Ideological Context 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 apparent by who her supporters inside the party have were.

She's the protégé of the deceased ex- hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the LDP at the leadership of one of the government's most influential conservative blocs.

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

“I do feel that it is difficult for women to somewhat identify with her achievement because it promotes this notion that we have to be compliant with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi says.

The 21-year-old concurs, stating that with her as a figurehead for women in government, “the public are going to expect the identical from us as too”.

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

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, however, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – including addressing a sluggish economy and rising prices and winning back the trust of a frustrated and irate electorate, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within days of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate women's rights matters to be high on her agenda.