🔗 Share this article

To numerous young girls in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's inaugural female prime minister 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 woman.

But while the optics suggest a progressive moment, certain females do not view her as an advocate for change.

“It was quite interesting to observe how individuals outside Japan have responded to the announcement,” a 21-year-old states.

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

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

Instead, Ms Ogura points to her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” adding: “She reinforces the male-dominated structure.”

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

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Observers say her ascension is a tactical move from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has consistently voted against legislation that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many women from retaining their maiden names.

Additionally, she is opposed to females being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

However, she did soften certain her statements during her campaign – saying she supports giving financial benefits to businesses that offer daycare services to their staff and spoke of potential deductions for households investing in childcare.

But she has over the years backed the notion of a more traditional role for females in the community and in the home.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's less than impressive performance on equality concerns.

Japan's Gender Gap in Context

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

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

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of women legislators and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economy places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. Specifically, females make up about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception available without prescription in over ninety nations – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Historic Leadership

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

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who became the country's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – informed local media.

She contended Japan having a woman prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is normal to “stand out” as authorities in companies and the community, despite biased expectations and expectations still persist.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is notable Japan has its first female prime minister, one must remember it took her more than 30 years to reach that position.

“Additionally, she is not really going against the grain. She's saying the same thing as the male politicians.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa adds that she ought not be placed on a platform simply because she is a female.

“We need to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We must be able to evaluate her equally as everyone else.”

Ideological Context and Associations

It is not only what Takaichi has stated 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 ex- 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 leadership of one of the ruling party's most powerful right-wing factions.

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

“I believe that it is challenging for women to somewhat relate to her success because it promotes this notion that we have to be obedient with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

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

“They will demand us to be compliant, not oppose the ideals that they have, and it might make our role harder.”

Upcoming Obstacles and Expectations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will face – including addressing a sluggish economy and inflation and winning back the confidence of a discontented and irate voting public, as in addition to welcoming the US leader 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 agenda.