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For many young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's first ever woman prime minister 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 speak of a progressive moment, certain females 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.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a great opportunity for female advancement and equal rights in Japan’.

“I think that's a rather simplistic view.”

Instead, Ms Ogura highlights her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” noting: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

A big fan of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Iron Lady” of her country.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Observers say her leadership is a tactical move from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has long stood against legislation that would permit spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many women from keeping their maiden names.

Additionally, she is against women being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she did soften certain her messaging during her election bid – stating she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that offer childcare facilities to their staff and mentioned possible tax breaks for households investing in child-rearing.

But she has historically supported the notion of a conventional role for women in the community and in the home.

Regarding women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's less than impressive performance on equality concerns.

The Country's Gender Gap in Context

Women in Japan are among the most highly educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they face challenges with the demands of a conservative society that still directs them into conventional positions.

According to the 2025 equality ranking by the global organization, Japan placed 118th among nearly 150 countries, with female representation in the political arena particularly minimal.

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to boost the quantity of female lawmakers 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. Specifically, females constitute about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in over ninety nations – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Landmark Leadership

Nonetheless, certain individuals view Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could change how women perceive their opportunities.

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

Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is acceptable to “stand out” as leaders in companies and society, even as gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.

However a 20-year-old notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, it is important to recall it took her more than 30 years to get to that office.

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

The young woman further states that she shouldn't be put on a pedestal simply because she is a woman.

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

Political Context and Associations

It is not just what Takaichi has stated which has led people to label her as a defender of the male-dominated system.

It's also evident by which individuals her champions inside the party have were.

She's the protégé of the late former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was backed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a senior figure in the ruling party at the head of one of the ruling party's most influential conservative blocs.

His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in uniting the conservative wing behind her.

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

Ms Ogura agrees, saying that with her as a figurehead for females in government, “the public are going to expect the same from women as too”.

“They're going to expect us to be conforming, not go against the ideals that they hold, and it might make our role harder.”

Future Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, however, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – including addressing a slow growth and rising prices and regaining the trust of a frustrated and irate voting public, as well as hosting the US leader within days of taking power.

It's safe to say that few anticipate gender equality issues to be high on her agenda.