A historic moment with reservations

For many young girls in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the reins of power as the country’s first female leader is powerful and formative.

This means a patriarchal society and a political system that was long dominated by men is now led by a woman.

But while the optic speaks to a progressive moment, some women don’t see it as an advocate for change.

“It was quite interesting to see how people outside of Japan reacted to the news.” Aida Ogura, 21, says.

“Everybody’s like, ‘wow, she’s the first female prime minister in Japanese history, and that would be a great opportunity for women’s empowerment and gender equality in Japan.’

“I think that’s a very naive interpretation.

Instead, Ms. Ogura pointed to her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” adding: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

A big fan of Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi always wanted to be her country’s ‘Iron Lady’.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Observers say her leadership is a tactical move by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to appeal to a more conservative base that has recently gravitated toward Japan’s more right-wing parties.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has long opposed legislation that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many women from keeping their maiden names.

She is also opposed to women being in line for succession to the imperial family.

However, she has toned down some of her messaging during her campaign — saying she supports giving tax incentives to companies that provide childcare for their employees and talking about possible tax breaks for families who spend on childcare.

But over the years she has supported the idea of ​​a more traditional role for women in society and the family.

On women’s issues, Takaichi is in line with her country’s less-than-impressive record on gender issues.

Japanese women are among the most educated and skilled in the world, yet they struggle with the expectations of a conservative society that still pushes them into traditional roles.

According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Gender Gap Index, Japan ranks 118th out of 148 countries, with extremely low representation of women in politics.

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by men, and Japan has struggled to increase the number of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The world’s fourth-largest economy ranks last among G7 countries in terms of the proportion of women in national parliaments. Specifically, women make up about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.

It’s even been slow when it comes to women’s reproductive health: Just this week, it was announced that the morning-after pill — a form of emergency contraception available over the counter in more than 90 countries — was finally approved for over the counter in Japan.

Still, some see Takaichi’s rise to power as a pivotal moment that could change the way women view their prospects.

“It is of great importance that Mrs. Takaichi becomes a prime minister with a wider impact on society,” Naomi Koshi, who became the country’s youngest female mayor in 2012, told Japan’s Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued that a Japan with a female prime minister would “lower the psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it’s normal to “stand out” as leaders in companies and society, even though gender stereotypes and expectations still remain.

But 20-year-old Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that while it is remarkable that Japan has its first female leader, it should be remembered that it took more than 30 years to reach this position.

“She’s not against the grain either. She says the same as the men.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa adds that she should not be put on a pedestal just because she is a woman.

“We have to make sure we’re talking about her politics. We have to be able to criticize her equally with everyone else.”

It’s not just what Takaichi said that makes people label her as a defender of the patriarchy.

It can also be seen from who are her leaders inside the party.

She is a protégé of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and was supported in the leadership election by Taro Aso, a senior figure in the LDP who heads one of the ruling party’s most powerful conservative blocs.

His faction’s support for Sanae Takaichi was key to rallying the party’s right wing behind her.

“I feel like it’s hard for women to relate to her success because it supports the idea that we have to conform to the status quo,” says 21-year-old Minori Konishi.

Ms. Ogura agrees, saying that with her as a figurehead for women in politics, “people will expect the same from us.”

“They’re going to expect us to obey, not to go against the ideals they have, and that can make our job more difficult.”

Making history, however, was only the first of the challenges Takaichi would face — not least dealing with a sluggish economy and inflation and winning the trust of a disillusioned and angry electorate, as well as taking on President Trump within days of taking office.

It’s safe to say that no one expects gender equality issues to be high on her priority list.