🔗 Share this article

To numerous female youth in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's first ever woman prime minister is impactful and influential.

It means a patriarchal society and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is now led by a female.

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

It was rather interesting to see how individuals outside Japan have reacted to the news,” Ayda Ogura says.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and equal rights in Japan’.

In my opinion that's a rather simplistic view.”

Instead, the young woman points to her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” noting: “She reinforces the male-dominated structure.”

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

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

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

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has long stood against legislation that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, blocking many women from keeping their birth surnames.

She's also opposed to women being in line for succession in the royal household.

Nonetheless, she did soften some of her statements during her campaign – saying she supports giving tax incentives to companies that provide daycare services to their employees and mentioned possible tax breaks for families spending on childcare.

Yet she has historically supported the idea of a conventional role for women in society and in the family.

Regarding women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her country's less than impressive performance on equality concerns.

Japan's Inequality in Perspective

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

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

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of women legislators and business leaders.

The world's fourth largest economic power places last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of women in its legislative body. In detail, females make up about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it revealed that the “morning after” pill – a type of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in more than 90 countries – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Landmark Appointment

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

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” a former mayor – who became the nation's youngest female mayor in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan having a female prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as authorities in companies and society, despite biased expectations and expectations still persist.

However a 20-year-old notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, one must remember it required her more than 30 years to reach that office.

“She's also not truly going against the norm. She expresses the same thing as the male politicians.”

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

“We need to make sure we're discussing her policies. We need to be able to criticise her equally as everyone else.”

Political Background and Influences

It is not only what Takaichi has said which has led people to label her as a supporter of the patriarchy.

It's also apparent by who her champions inside the party have were.

She was mentored of the deceased former hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the party vote 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 backing for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in consolidating the conservative wing behind her.

“I do feel that it is challenging for women to sort of relate to her success because it promotes this idea that we must be obedient with the status quo,” young adult a citizen says.

The 21-year-old concurs, saying that with her as a figurehead for females in government, “the public are going to expect the identical from women as well”.

“They're going to expect women to be compliant, not oppose the ideals that they have, and it could render our job more difficult.”

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, however, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least addressing a sluggish economy and inflation and winning back the trust of a frustrated and angry voting public, as in addition to hosting the US leader within days of taking power.

It's safe to say that no-one expects women's rights matters to be high on her priority list.