The Nation's Pioneering Woman Leader: A Historic Event with Reservations

To numerous young girls in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's first ever female leader is powerful and formative.

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

However, although the optics speak of a progressive moment, certain females don't see her as an champion of progress.

“It was quite fascinating to see how individuals beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the news,” Ayda Ogura says.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan’.

“I think that's a very naive view.”

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

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 conservative.

Analysts note her leadership is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

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

She's also against females being in line for succession in the royal household.

Nonetheless, she moderated some of her statements during her campaign – saying she supports giving tax incentives to businesses that offer childcare facilities to their employees and spoke of potential deductions for families spending on child-rearing.

But she has over the years supported the idea of a more traditional position for females in society and in the family.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's less than impressive record on gender issues.

The Country's Gender Gap in Context

Women in Japan are some of the best educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a conservative society that still pushes them into traditional roles.

According to the 2025 gender gap index by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th out of among nearly 150 nations, with female representation in the political arena particularly minimal.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economy ranks at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of women in its national parliament. Specifically, women make up about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception sold over the counter in more than 90 countries – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Landmark Appointment

Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could change how females view their prospects.

“There is great significance in the new prime minister assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” a former mayor – who became the country's youngest female mayor in 2012 – informed local media.

She contended Japan having a woman prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is normal to “excel” as leaders in businesses and society, even as biased expectations and norms still remain.

But a 20-year-old notes that, while it is notable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, it is important to recall it took her over three decades to reach that position.

“She's also not really challenging the grain. She expresses the identical views as the men.”

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

“It is essential to make sure we're discussing her policies. We need to be capable of evaluate her equally as everyone else.”

Political Background and Influences

It is not only what Takaichi has stated which has caused individuals to describe her as a supporter of the male-dominated system.

It's also apparent by who her supporters within the LDP have were.

She's the protégé of the late former conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the ruling party at the head of one of the ruling party's most powerful right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is difficult for females to somewhat relate to her achievement because it promotes this notion that we must be compliant with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi says.

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

“They're going to expect women to be compliant, not go against the beliefs that they have, and it might make our role more difficult.”

Future Obstacles and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, however, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least addressing a sluggish economy and rising prices and regaining the confidence of a frustrated and angry voting public, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within a short time of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects women's rights matters to be a top priority on her agenda.