🔗 Share this article

For many female youth in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's first ever woman leader is impactful and formative.

This signifies a male-oriented culture and a political system that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a female.

However, although the optics speak of a forward-thinking era, certain females do not view her as an advocate for change.

“It was quite fascinating to observe how people outside Japan have reacted to the news,” Ayda Ogura says.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a significant chance for female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.

“I think that's a rather simplistic interpretation.”

Instead, Ms Ogura highlights her “political beliefs and what she represents,” adding: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

A strong admirer of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her nation.

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

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

The leader is against marriage equality and has long stood against legislation that would permit married couples to have different last names, blocking many women from keeping their maiden names.

She's also against women being in line for succession in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she did soften some of her statements during her election bid – stating she favours giving financial benefits to companies that offer childcare facilities to their staff and spoke of possible deductions for households investing in child-rearing.

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

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

Japan's Inequality in Perspective

Japanese women are among the most highly educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into traditional roles.

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

Top roles have historically been held by males and Japan has struggled to increase the number of women legislators and corporate executives.

The globally fourth biggest economy ranks at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of women in its legislative body. In detail, females constitute about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it revealed that the “morning after” pill – a form of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in over ninety nations – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Historic Appointment

Nonetheless, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could change how women view their prospects.

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the country's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan electing a female prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as authorities in businesses and society, even as gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, it is important to recall it required her more than 30 years to reach that office.

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

The young woman adds that she ought not be placed on a pedestal simply because she is a female.

“It is essential to ensure we're discussing her policies. We must be capable of criticise her fairly as all other leaders.”

Ideological Background and Influences

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

Additionally, it is evident by who her champions inside the party have been.

She was mentored of the deceased ex- conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was backed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the ruling party at the head of one of the government's most powerful right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is challenging for females to somewhat relate to her success because it promotes this idea that we have to be compliant with the status quo,” 21-year-old a citizen says.

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

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

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, though, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a sluggish economy and rising prices and regaining the confidence of a frustrated and angry voting public, as in addition to hosting president Trump within days of assuming office.

It's safe to say that few anticipate gender equality issues to be high on her priority list.