To numerous young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's inaugural female leader is impactful and formative.
It means a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is now led by a female.
However, although the optics suggest a progressive moment, certain females don't see her as an champion of progress.
“It was quite interesting to see how people outside Japan have reacted to the news,” a 21-year-old states.
People are saying, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a significant chance for female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.
In my opinion that's a very naive view.”
Conversely, Ms Ogura highlights her “ideological stance and what she represents,” noting: “She reinforces the male-dominated structure.”
A big fan of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Iron Lady” of her country.
Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm right-wing politician.
Analysts note her ascension is a tactical move from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to attract the increasingly right-leaning base which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.
The leader is against marriage equality and has consistently voted against legislation that would permit married couples to have different last names, preventing many women from keeping their maiden names.
She's also opposed to females being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.
However, she moderated certain her messaging during her campaign – stating she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that offer childcare facilities to their employees and spoke of possible deductions for households spending on childcare.
Yet she has historically supported the idea of a conventional role for females in the community and in the home.
Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's less than impressive record on gender issues.
The Country's Inequality in Perspective
Women in Japan are some of the most highly educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they struggle with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into conventional positions.
Based on the 2025 gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th among nearly 150 nations, with women's presence in the political arena notably low.
Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has struggled to boost the number of female lawmakers and business leaders.
The world's fourth largest economic power places at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. In detail, women constitute about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure among the seven major economies.
It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a form of emergency contraception available without prescription in over ninety nations – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.
Mixed Reactions to the Landmark Appointment
Nonetheless, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could change how females view their opportunities.
“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on society,” a former mayor – who was elected as the nation's youngest female mayor in 2012 – informed local media.
She contended Japan having a female prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as authorities in companies and the community, even as biased expectations and norms still persist.
However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female prime minister, one must remember it took her more than 30 years to reach that office.
“Additionally, she is not truly going against the grain. She's saying the identical views as the men.”
Ms Hill-Uekawa 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 agenda. We need to be able to evaluate her fairly as all other leaders.”
Political Context and Associations
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 supporters within the LDP have been.
She was mentored 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 head of one of the ruling party's most powerful right-wing factions.
His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in uniting the party's right wing behind her.
“I do feel that it is challenging for women to somewhat identify with her achievement because it promotes this notion that we must be compliant with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi says.
Ms Ogura agrees, saying that with her as a figurehead for women in politics, “people are going to expect the same from us as too”.
“They will demand women to be conforming, not go against the beliefs that they hold, and it could render our role harder.”
Future Obstacles and Expectations
Making history, however, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a slow growth and inflation and winning back the confidence of a discontented and irate electorate, as well as hosting the US leader within a short time of taking power.
One can reasonably assume that few anticipate women's rights matters to be a top priority on her agenda.
