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To numerous young girls in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's inaugural woman prime minister is impactful and influential.

This signifies a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is now led by a female.

But while the appearances speak of a progressive moment, 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,” Ayda Ogura says.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and equal rights in Japan’.

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

Conversely, the young woman points to her “political beliefs 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 “Iron Lady” of her nation.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Observers say her leadership is a tactical move from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to attract the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has consistently voted against laws that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many women from retaining their birth surnames.

She's also opposed to women being in line for succession in the royal household.

However, she moderated certain her messaging during her campaign – stating she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that provide daycare services to their employees and mentioned possible tax breaks for households spending on child-rearing.

Yet she has historically supported the idea of a conventional position for females in the community and in the home.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her country's subpar performance on gender issues.

The Country's Inequality in Context

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

According to the 2025 equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among nearly 150 nations, with women's presence in the field of politics particularly minimal.

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

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

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a form of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in more than 90 countries – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Landmark Leadership

Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could alter how women view their opportunities.

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on society,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the country's youngest female mayor in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan having a woman prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as authorities in companies and the community, even as biased expectations and expectations still persist.

However 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 reach that office.

“She's also not really challenging the grain. She expresses the identical views as the male politicians.”

The young woman adds that she ought not be placed on a platform just due to the fact she is a woman.

“It is essential to ensure we're discussing her policies. We must be capable of criticise her equally as everyone else.”

Political 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 supporters within the LDP have were.

She's the protégé of the late ex- hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, 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 uniting the conservative wing in her favor.

“I believe that it is challenging for females to sort of relate to her success because it promotes this idea that we must be compliant with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi says.

The 21-year-old concurs, saying that with her as a symbol for women in government, “people are likely to anticipate the identical from women as too”.

“They will demand women to be compliant, not oppose the beliefs that they have, and it might make our role more difficult.”

Future Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – including tackling a slow growth and inflation and regaining the confidence of a discontented and irate electorate, as well as welcoming the US leader within days of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects women's rights matters to be a top priority on her priority list.