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For many female youth in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's inaugural woman prime minister is impactful and influential.

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 progressive moment, certain females do not view her as an advocate for change.

“It was quite fascinating to see how individuals beyond Japan's borders have responded to the news,” a 21-year-old says.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and equal rights in Japan’.

“I think that's a very naive view.”

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

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

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Analysts note her leadership is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to appeal to the more conservative supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has long stood against laws that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, blocking many women from retaining their birth surnames.

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

Nonetheless, she moderated certain her statements during her campaign – saying she favours giving tax incentives to companies that offer childcare facilities to their employees and mentioned possible tax breaks for households spending on child-rearing.

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

When it comes to women's issues, Takaichi is consistent with her country's subpar record on equality concerns.

Japan's Gender Gap in Perspective

Japanese women are some of the best educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they face challenges with the demands of a traditional culture that still directs them into conventional positions.

According to the 2025 gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th among nearly 150 countries, with women's presence in the field of politics notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has struggled to boost the number of women legislators and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economy places last among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. Specifically, females 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 revealed that the “emergency” pill – a type of emergency contraception available without prescription in over ninety nations – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Historic Leadership

Even so, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could alter how women view their prospects.

“There is great significance in the new prime minister assuming the role of prime minister, with a broader impact on society,” a former mayor – who became the nation's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – told local media.

Koshi argued Japan having a woman prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “stand out” as leaders in companies and the community, despite gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.

But a 20-year-old points out that, while it is notable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, it is important to recall it took her more than 30 years to get to that position.

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

The young woman further states that she shouldn't be put on a platform just due to the fact she is a woman.

“We need to ensure we're discussing her policies. We need to be capable of evaluate her equally as all other leaders.”

Political Context and Associations

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

It's also evident by who her supporters within the LDP have been.

She's the protégé of the deceased ex- hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most influential right-wing factions.

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

“I believe that it is difficult for women to sort of relate to her achievement because it promotes this notion that we have to be obedient with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

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

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

Upcoming Obstacles and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, however, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least addressing a slow growth and rising prices and winning back the confidence of a discontented and angry voting public, as in addition to welcoming the US leader within a short time of assuming office.

It's safe to say that no-one expects women's rights matters to be high on her agenda.