The Nation's Pioneering Woman Prime Minister: A Historic Event with Reservations

To numerous young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's inaugural female leader is powerful and formative.

This signifies a male-oriented culture 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 advocate for change.

“It was quite fascinating to see how people beyond Japan's borders have responded to the news,” Ayda Ogura says.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a significant chance for women empowerment and equal rights in Japan’.

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

Conversely, Ms Ogura points to her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” adding: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

A strong admirer of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Iron Lady” of her country.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

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

The leader is against marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would allow married couples to have different last names, blocking many women from retaining their maiden names.

She's also against women being in eligible for the throne in the royal household.

However, she moderated some of her statements during her campaign – saying she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that provide childcare facilities to their staff and spoke of potential deductions for families spending on child-rearing.

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

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her country's subpar record on equality concerns.

The Country's Gender Gap in Context

Women in Japan are among the best educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a traditional culture that still directs them into conventional positions.

According to the latest gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among nearly 150 nations, with female representation in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Top roles have historically been held by males and Japan has faced difficulties to boost the number of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economic power places at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. In detail, females constitute about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the lowest figure among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception sold over the counter in more than 90 countries – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

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

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the country's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan having a woman prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is normal to “stand out” as leaders in companies and society, despite gender-based stereotypes and expectations still remain.

But a 20-year-old points out that, while it is notable Japan has its first female prime minister, it is important to recall it took her more than 30 years to reach that office.

“She's also not truly challenging the grain. She expresses the same thing as the male politicians.”

The young woman adds that she shouldn't be put on a pedestal 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 criticise her fairly as everyone else.”

Ideological Context and Influences

It is not just what Takaichi has stated which has caused individuals to describe her as a defender of the patriarchy.

It's also evident by who her champions inside the party have were.

She was mentored of the late former conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a senior figure in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the government's most powerful right-wing factions.

His faction's backing for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in uniting the conservative wing behind her.

“I believe that it is difficult for females to sort of relate to her success because it promotes this idea that we must be obedient with the status quo,” 21-year-old a citizen remarks.

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

“They will demand women to be compliant, not oppose the beliefs that they have, and it might make our role more difficult.”

Future Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, however, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will face – including addressing a slow growth and rising prices and winning back the confidence of a discontented and angry voting public, as well as hosting president Trump within a short time of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate gender equality issues to be a top priority on her priority list.