The Nation's First Female Leader: A Historic Moment that Comes with Caveats

To numerous young girls in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's first ever woman leader is impactful and influential.

This signifies a male-oriented culture and a political system that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a female.

However, although the appearances speak of a progressive moment, certain females don't see her as an advocate for change.

It was rather interesting to see how people outside Japan have reacted to the announcement,” a 21-year-old says.

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

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

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

A big fan of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her nation.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Observers say her leadership is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to attract the more conservative base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has consistently voted against legislation that would allow spouses to have separate surnames, blocking many women from keeping their birth surnames.

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

However, she moderated certain her messaging during her campaign – stating she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that offer daycare services to their employees and spoke of possible tax breaks for households investing in child-rearing.

Yet she has over the years supported the notion of a more traditional position for women in the community and in the family.

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar record on equality concerns.

The Country's Gender Gap in Context

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

According to the 2025 gender gap index by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th among nearly 150 nations, with female representation in the field of politics notably low.

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

The world's fourth largest economy ranks last among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of women in its legislative body. Specifically, women constitute about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: only this week was it announced that the “emergency” pill – a form of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in over ninety nations – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Landmark Leadership

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could alter how females perceive their opportunities.

“There is great significance in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the country's youngest female city leader in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan having a female prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for women and girls, helping them feel it is normal to “stand out” as leaders in businesses and the community, even as biased expectations and norms still remain.

But a 20-year-old notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, it is important to recall it required her more than 30 years to reach that position.

“She's also not truly going against the norm. She's saying the same thing as the men.”

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

“It is essential to ensure we're discussing her policies. We must be able to evaluate her equally as everyone else.”

Political Background and Influences

It is not only what Takaichi has stated which has led people to label her as a supporter of the male-dominated system.

Additionally, it is apparent by who her supporters within the LDP have were.

She was mentored of the deceased ex- conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the party vote by a senior politician – a prominent member in the LDP at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most powerful right-wing factions.

Their group's backing for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in consolidating the party's right wing behind her.

“I do feel that it is challenging for women to sort of identify with her success because it promotes this idea that we must be obedient with the status quo,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi says.

The 21-year-old concurs, stating that with her as a symbol for females in government, “people are likely to anticipate the same from us as well”.

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

Future Obstacles and Anticipations

Achieving this milestone, however, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – not least tackling a sluggish economy and inflation and winning back the trust of a discontented and irate electorate, as in addition to hosting president Trump within days of assuming office.

It's safe to say that no-one expects women's rights matters to be a top priority on her priority list.