Japan's First Woman Prime Minister: An Unprecedented Moment that Comes with Caveats

To numerous female youth in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's first ever female prime minister is impactful and formative.

It means a patriarchal society and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a woman.

However, although the optics speak of a forward-thinking era, certain females do not view her as an champion of progress.

“It was quite interesting to see how individuals outside Japan have responded to the announcement,” Ayda Ogura 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’.

“I think that's a very naive interpretation.”

Conversely, the young woman highlights her “political beliefs and what she represents,” adding: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

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

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

Observers say her ascension is a strategic decision from the ruling LDP to appeal to the more conservative base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would permit married couples to have separate surnames, blocking many females from retaining their maiden names.

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

However, she did soften some of her statements during her campaign – stating she favours giving financial benefits to companies that offer childcare facilities to their employees and mentioned possible tax breaks for families investing in childcare.

Yet she has historically supported the idea of a more traditional position for females in the community and in the home.

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

The Country's Inequality in Perspective

Women in Japan 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 traditional roles.

Based on the 2025 gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th out of among 148 nations, with women's presence in the political arena notably low.

Leadership positions have historically been held by men and Japan has struggled to boost 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 females in its legislative body. Specifically, females constitute about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish 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 over ninety nations – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Historic Appointment

Even so, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could change how women view their opportunities.

“There is great significance 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 “lower mental obstacles” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “excel” as authorities in businesses and the community, despite gender-based stereotypes and norms still remain.

But Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is notable Japan has its first female leader, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to get to that position.

“Additionally, she is not really challenging the grain. She's saying the same thing as the male politicians.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa adds that she shouldn't be put on a platform just due to the fact she is a female.

“We need to ensure we're discussing her policies. We must be capable of evaluate her fairly as everyone else.”

Political Context and Influences

It is not only what Takaichi has said which has caused individuals to describe her as a defender of the male-dominated system.

Additionally, it is apparent by which individuals her champions inside the party have were.

She was mentored of the deceased former conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a senior figure in the LDP at the leadership of one of the government's most influential right-wing factions.

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

“I believe that it is difficult for women to somewhat identify with her success because it promotes this notion that we have to be compliant with the existing system,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi says.

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

“They will demand women to be conforming, not oppose the ideals that they have, and it might make our job harder.”

Future Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – not least addressing a slow growth and inflation and regaining the trust of a discontented and angry voting public, as in addition to welcoming the US leader within a short time of assuming office.

It's safe to say that few anticipate gender equality issues to be a top priority on her priority list.