🔗 Share this article

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

It means a patriarchal society and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a woman.

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

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

People are saying, ‘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’.

“I think that's a very naive interpretation.”

Instead, Ms Ogura highlights her “ideological stance and what she represents,” noting: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

A big fan of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Iron Lady” of her nation.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch right-wing politician.

Analysts note her leadership is a tactical move from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has long stood against laws that would allow spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many females from retaining their birth surnames.

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

However, she did soften some of her statements during her election bid – stating she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that provide daycare services to their employees and spoke of possible deductions for households investing in child-rearing.

Yet she has over the years backed the notion of a conventional position for females in the community and in the family.

Regarding women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar record on gender issues.

The Country's Inequality in Perspective

Japanese women are among the best educated and most skilled in the world and yet they struggle with the demands of a conservative society that still pushes them into conventional positions.

Based on the 2025 gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among 148 nations, with women's presence in the field of politics notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the number of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The globally fourth biggest economic power places last among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of females in its legislative body. Specifically, females constitute about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the lowest figure among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: only this week was it announced that the “emergency” pill – a form of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in more than 90 countries – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Landmark Leadership

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a pivotal moment that could alter how women perceive their opportunities.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” a former mayor – who became the nation's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

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 authorities in companies and the community, even as gender-based stereotypes and expectations still persist.

But Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, one must remember it required her over three decades to reach that office.

“Additionally, she is not truly going against the norm. She expresses the identical views as the men.”

The young woman adds that she ought not be placed on a pedestal just due to the fact she is a woman.

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

Ideological Context and Influences

It is not only what Takaichi has said which has caused individuals to describe her as a defender of the patriarchy.

Additionally, it is evident by who her supporters inside the party have were.

She's the protégé of the deceased former conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a senior figure in the ruling party at the head of one of the government's most powerful conservative blocs.

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

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

Ms Ogura agrees, saying that with her as a symbol for women in government, “people are likely to anticipate the identical from us as well”.

“They're going to expect women to be conforming, not oppose the ideals 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 sluggish economy and rising prices and winning back the confidence of a discontented and irate voting public, as in addition to hosting president Trump within a short time of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects gender equality issues to be a top priority on her priority list.