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To numerous female youth in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's first ever female leader is powerful and influential.

It means a male-oriented culture and a political system that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a woman.

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

“It was quite interesting to observe how people beyond Japan's borders have responded to the announcement,” a 21-year-old states.

“Everyone's like, ‘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 very naive interpretation.”

Instead, the young woman points to her “political beliefs and what she represents,” adding: “She reinforces the patriarchal system.”

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

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Analysts note her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to attract the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against marriage equality and has long stood against laws that would permit spouses to have different last names, preventing many women from retaining their birth surnames.

She's also opposed to females being in eligible for the throne in the royal household.

However, she did soften some of her statements during her campaign – stating she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that provide daycare services to their staff and spoke of potential deductions for households investing in childcare.

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

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's subpar record on equality concerns.

The Country's Inequality in Perspective

Women in Japan are some of the best educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they face challenges with the demands of a conservative society that still pushes 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 female representation in the field of politics notably low.

Leadership positions have historically been held by men and Japan has faced difficulties to boost the quantity of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economy ranks at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. In detail, women constitute about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it revealed that the “morning after” pill – a form of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in over ninety nations – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

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

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a broader impact on society,” a former mayor – who became the country's youngest female city leader in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan having a female prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is normal to “stand out” as authorities in companies and society, even as biased expectations and expectations still remain.

However a 20-year-old points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, it is important to recall it took her over three decades to reach that office.

“She's also not really challenging the grain. She's saying the same thing as the men.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she shouldn't be put on a platform simply because she is a woman.

“We need to ensure we're discussing her agenda. We must be able to evaluate her fairly as everyone else.”

Political Context and Associations

It is not just what Takaichi has said which has led people to label her as a supporter of the patriarchy.

It's also apparent by which individuals her champions within the LDP 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 LDP at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most powerful conservative blocs.

Their group's support for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in consolidating the party's right wing behind her.

“I believe that it is difficult for women to sort of relate to her success because it furthers this notion that we have to be obedient with the status quo,” 21-year-old a citizen says.

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

“They're going to expect us to be compliant, not oppose the ideals that they have, and it could render our role harder.”

Future Challenges and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, though, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – not least tackling a slow growth and rising prices and winning back the confidence of a frustrated and irate electorate, as in addition to hosting the US leader within a short time of taking power.

It's safe to say that no-one expects gender equality issues to be a top priority on her priority list.