🔗 Share this article

To numerous female youth in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's inaugural female prime minister is impactful and formative.

This signifies a patriarchal society and a political system that has long been dominated by men is now led by a female.

But while the appearances suggest a forward-thinking era, some women don't see her as an champion of progress.

It was rather interesting to observe how individuals beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the announcement,” 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 female advancement and equal rights in Japan’.

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

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

A big fan of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Iron Lady” of her nation.

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

Analysts note her ascension is a strategic decision from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the more conservative base which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has long stood against laws that would permit spouses to have different last names, blocking many females from keeping their birth surnames.

She's also opposed to women being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she did soften some of her statements during her election bid – stating she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that offer daycare services to their staff and mentioned possible tax breaks for households spending on childcare.

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

Regarding women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar performance on equality concerns.

The Country's Gender Gap 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 conventional positions.

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

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has struggled to boost the quantity of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economic power places last among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its national parliament. Specifically, females constitute about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion 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 “morning after” pill – a form of post-coital birth control available without prescription in over ninety countries – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Historic Leadership

Even so, some see Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could alter how women perceive their prospects.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the nation's youngest female mayor in 2012 – told local media.

She contended Japan electing a female prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as leaders in businesses and the community, even as gender-based stereotypes and norms still remain.

But a 20-year-old points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, one must remember it took her over three decades to get to that office.

“Additionally, she is not really going against the norm. She expresses the same thing as the male politicians.”

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

“It is essential to make sure we're talking about her policies. We must be able to criticise 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 evident by which individuals her champions inside the party have were.

She's the protégé of the deceased former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the party vote by a senior politician – a prominent member in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the government's most influential conservative blocs.

Their group's backing for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in consolidating the conservative wing behind her.

“I believe that it is challenging for females to sort of identify with her achievement because it furthers this idea that we have to be obedient with the existing system,” 21-year-old a citizen remarks.

Ms Ogura agrees, stating that with her as a figurehead for females in government, “people are going to expect the same from women as well”.

“They're going to expect women to be conforming, not go against the beliefs that they hold, and it could render our role more difficult.”

Upcoming Challenges and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, however, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a sluggish economy and inflation and regaining the confidence of a frustrated and angry electorate, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within days of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects gender equality issues to be high on her agenda.