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For many female youth in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's inaugural female leader is impactful and influential.

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

However, although the appearances suggest a progressive moment, certain females do not view her as an champion of progress.

“It was quite interesting to see how individuals beyond Japan's borders have responded to the announcement,” a 21-year-old states.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the first female 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 “ideological stance and what she stands for,” adding: “She perpetuates 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 firm conservative.

Observers say her ascension is a tactical move from the governing LDP to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has long stood against legislation that would allow married couples to have different last names, blocking many females from keeping their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is against females being in eligible for the throne in the royal household.

However, she did soften certain her messaging during her campaign – stating she supports giving financial benefits to companies that provide daycare services to their employees and spoke of possible tax breaks for families investing in child-rearing.

Yet she has historically backed the idea of a conventional role for women in the community and in the family.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's less than impressive performance on equality concerns.

Japan's Inequality in Context

Japanese women are among the best educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into traditional roles.

Based on the latest gender gap index by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th out of among nearly 150 nations, with female representation in the political arena particularly minimal.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has faced difficulties to boost the quantity of women legislators and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economic power ranks last among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of females in its national parliament. In detail, women make up about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of emergency contraception available without prescription in over ninety countries – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Appointment

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

“It is highly meaningful 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 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as authorities in businesses and society, despite gender-based stereotypes and expectations still remain.

However a 20-year-old notes that, while it is notable Japan has its first female prime minister, it is important to recall it required her more than 30 years to get to that office.

“She's also not truly challenging the grain. She's saying the same thing as the men.”

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

“We need to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We must be able to criticise her equally as all other leaders.”

Political Context and Associations

It is not just what Takaichi has stated which has caused individuals to describe her as a supporter of the male-dominated system.

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

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

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

“I do feel that it is difficult for women to somewhat identify with her success because it furthers this idea that we have to be compliant with the existing system,” young adult a citizen says.

Ms Ogura concurs, stating that with her as a figurehead for women in government, “the public are likely to anticipate the identical from us as too”.

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

Future Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, though, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – including addressing a sluggish economy and rising prices and winning back the confidence of a discontented and angry voting public, as well as hosting the US leader within a short time of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate women's rights matters to be high on her priority list.