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For many female youth in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's first ever female prime minister is impactful and influential.

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

However, although the optics suggest a progressive moment, some women do not view her as an champion of progress.

It was rather interesting to observe how individuals outside Japan have reacted to the announcement,” Ayda Ogura states.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a significant chance for female advancement and equal rights in Japan’.

In my opinion that's a very naive view.”

Instead, Ms Ogura highlights her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” adding: “She reinforces 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 staunch right-wing politician.

Observers say her ascension is a strategic decision from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to attract the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has consistently voted against laws that would permit spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many females from keeping their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is against women being in line for succession in the imperial family.

However, she moderated some of her messaging during her campaign – stating she supports giving financial benefits to companies that provide daycare services to their staff and spoke of potential tax breaks for families investing in childcare.

But she has over the years supported the notion of a conventional role for females in society and in the home.

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

The Country's Inequality in Perspective

Women in Japan are among the best educated and most skilled in the world and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a conservative society that still pushes them into conventional positions.

Based on the 2025 equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th among nearly 150 nations, with female representation in the political arena particularly minimal.

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has struggled to boost the number of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The globally fourth biggest economic power ranks last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. In detail, women make up about less than 16% of legislators 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 form of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in over ninety countries – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Historic Appointment

Even so, some see Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could alter how females perceive their prospects.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” Naomi Koshi – who became the country's youngest female city leader in 2012 – informed 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 “stand out” as authorities in businesses and the community, even as biased expectations and norms 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 required her over three decades to reach that office.

“She's also not truly going against the grain. She's saying the identical views as the men.”

The young woman adds that she shouldn't be put on a platform simply because she is a woman.

“It is essential to make sure we're discussing her policies. We need to be able to criticise her fairly as all other leaders.”

Ideological Context and Influences

It is not only what Takaichi has stated which has caused individuals to describe 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 deceased former conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the LDP at the head of one of the government's most powerful right-wing factions.

Their group's backing for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in uniting the party's right wing in her favor.

“I believe that it is challenging for women to sort of relate to her achievement because it furthers this idea that we must be obedient with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

Ms Ogura concurs, stating that with her as a symbol for women in government, “the public are likely to anticipate the identical from women as too”.

“They will demand us to be conforming, not go against the beliefs that they hold, and it might make our job harder.”

Future Obstacles and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, though, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – not least tackling a slow growth and rising prices and regaining the trust of a frustrated and angry voting public, as in addition to welcoming the US leader within days of assuming office.

It's safe to say that few anticipate women's rights matters to be a top priority on her agenda.