The Nation's Pioneering Female Prime Minister: A Historic Moment with Caveats

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

It means a patriarchal society and a political system that has historically been controlled by men is now led by a female.

However, although the optics speak of a progressive moment, some women don't see her as an advocate for change.

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

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a significant chance for female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.

“I think that's a rather simplistic view.”

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

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

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

Analysts note her leadership is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to attract the more conservative supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has long stood against laws that would permit married couples to have separate surnames, blocking many women from keeping their birth surnames.

She's also against women being in line for succession in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she moderated some of her statements during her election bid – saying she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that offer childcare facilities to their staff and spoke of potential tax breaks for families spending on childcare.

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

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's less than impressive record on gender issues.

The Country's Inequality in Context

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

Based on the 2025 gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th among 148 countries, with women's presence in the political arena particularly minimal.

Leadership positions have historically been held by men and Japan has struggled to increase the number of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The globally fourth biggest economic power ranks at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. Specifically, females make up about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish 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 nations – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Landmark Appointment

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

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who became the nation's youngest female mayor in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan having a woman prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as authorities in businesses and the community, even as gender-based stereotypes and expectations still persist.

But Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is notable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, it is important to recall it required her more than 30 years to reach that position.

“She's also not really going against the grain. She's saying the identical views as the men.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she ought not be placed on a platform just due to the fact she is a woman.

“It is essential to make sure we're talking about her agenda. We must be capable of evaluate her fairly as everyone else.”

Political Background and Associations

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

It's also apparent by who her champions within the LDP have been.

She's the protégé of the deceased ex- hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was backed 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 influential right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is difficult for females to somewhat relate to her achievement because it furthers this notion that we have to be obedient with the existing system,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi remarks.

The 21-year-old agrees, stating that with her as a figurehead for women in politics, “the public are likely to anticipate the same from women as too”.

“They're going to expect us to be conforming, not oppose the ideals that they have, and it could render our job harder.”

Upcoming Obstacles and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, though, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will face – including tackling a slow growth and inflation and winning back the confidence of a frustrated and angry voting public, as well as welcoming president Trump within a short time of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate gender equality issues to be high on her agenda.