🔗 Share this article

For many young girls in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's first ever female prime minister is powerful and influential.

It means a patriarchal society and a government structure that has historically been controlled 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 rather fascinating to see how people beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the news,” Ayda Ogura states.

“Everyone's like, ‘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’.

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

Instead, the young woman points to her “political beliefs and what she represents,” adding: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

A big fan of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Iron Lady” of her country.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch right-wing politician.

Observers say her ascension is a tactical move from the ruling LDP to attract the increasingly right-leaning base which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has consistently voted against legislation that would permit spouses to have different last names, blocking many women from keeping their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is against women being in line for succession in the royal household.

Nonetheless, she moderated some of her statements during her campaign – stating she supports giving tax incentives to companies that provide childcare facilities to their staff and spoke of potential tax breaks for households investing in child-rearing.

But she has historically supported the notion of a conventional position for females in society and in the home.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's subpar record on gender issues.

Japan's Gender Gap in Context

Women in Japan are some of the best educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they struggle with the expectations of a conservative society that still pushes them into traditional roles.

Based on the 2025 equality ranking by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th out of among nearly 150 countries, with women's presence in the field of politics notably low.

Leadership positions have historically been held by males and Japan has struggled to boost the number of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economy ranks at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. Specifically, women constitute about less than 16% of legislators 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 “emergency” pill – a form of emergency contraception available without prescription in over ninety countries – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

Even so, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could alter how women perceive their prospects.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” Naomi Koshi – who became the nation's youngest female city leader in 2012 – informed local media.

Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as leaders in companies and society, despite gender-based stereotypes and expectations still persist.

But Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female prime minister, one must remember it required her more than 30 years to get to that position.

“She's also not truly challenging the norm. She expresses the same thing as the men.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa adds that she shouldn't be put on a platform simply because she is a female.

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

Political Context and Influences

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

Additionally, it is apparent by which individuals her supporters within the LDP have been.

She's the protégé of the late former hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the LDP at the leadership of one of the government's most influential right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is challenging for females to somewhat relate to her success because it furthers this idea that we have to be obedient with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi says.

Ms Ogura concurs, saying that with her as a figurehead for women in government, “the public are going to expect the identical from women as well”.

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

Future Challenges and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, though, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will face – not least addressing a sluggish economy and inflation and winning back the trust of a frustrated and irate electorate, as in addition to welcoming the US leader within days of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects women's rights matters to be a top priority on her priority list.