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To numerous female youth in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's inaugural female prime minister is powerful and formative.

This signifies a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a female.

However, although the optics suggest a forward-thinking era, some women do not view her as an champion of progress.

It was rather fascinating to observe how individuals beyond Japan's borders have responded to the news,” a 21-year-old states.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a great opportunity for female advancement and equal rights in Japan’.

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

Conversely, Ms Ogura highlights her “political beliefs and what she represents,” adding: “She reinforces the patriarchal system.”

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

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

Observers say her leadership is a tactical move from the ruling LDP to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against marriage equality and has consistently voted against legislation that would permit spouses to have different last names, preventing many females from retaining their birth surnames.

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

Nonetheless, she moderated some of her statements during her election bid – stating she supports giving financial benefits to companies that provide childcare facilities to their staff and spoke of potential deductions for households spending on childcare.

But she has over the years supported the idea of a conventional position for females in the community and in the home.

When it comes to women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar performance on equality concerns.

The Country's Gender Gap in Context

Japanese women are among the best educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they struggle with the demands of a traditional culture that still pushes them into traditional roles.

Based on the latest equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among nearly 150 nations, with women's presence in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has struggled to increase the quantity of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economy places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of females in its national parliament. In detail, females make up about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: only this week was it revealed that the “morning after” pill – a form of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in over ninety countries – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Historic Appointment

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

“There is great significance in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” a former mayor – 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 businesses and the community, despite gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.

However a 20-year-old notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, one must remember it required her over three decades to reach that office.

“Additionally, she is not really challenging the grain. She expresses the same thing as the men.”

The young woman adds that she shouldn't be put on a platform simply because she is a woman.

“We need to make sure we're talking about her policies. We need to be able to evaluate her equally as all other leaders.”

Political Context and Associations

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

It's also apparent by who her supporters inside the party have were.

She was mentored of the late former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the ruling party at the head of one of the government's most influential conservative blocs.

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

“I believe that it is challenging for women to somewhat identify with her success because it furthers this notion that we have to be compliant with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

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

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

Future Challenges and Expectations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will face – not least tackling a slow growth and inflation and regaining the trust of a discontented and angry voting public, as well as welcoming the US leader within days of taking power.

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