The Nation's First Female Leader: An Unprecedented Moment that Comes with Caveats

For many female youth in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's first ever female prime minister is impactful and influential.

This signifies a patriarchal society and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is now led by a woman.

However, although the optics speak of a forward-thinking era, some women don't see her as an advocate for change.

It was rather fascinating to see how people outside Japan have responded to the news,” a 21-year-old states.

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

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

Conversely, the young woman highlights her “political beliefs and what she represents,” adding: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

A strong admirer of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Iron Lady” of her nation.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Observers say her ascension is a tactical move from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to 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 permit spouses to have different last names, blocking many women from retaining their maiden names.

Additionally, she is against females being in line for succession in the imperial family.

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

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

Regarding women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar record on gender issues.

Japan's Gender Gap in Perspective

Japanese women are among the most highly 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.

According to the latest gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th among nearly 150 countries, with female representation in the field of politics notably low.

Leadership positions have historically been held by males and Japan has struggled to increase the number of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The globally fourth biggest economic power ranks at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its national parliament. In detail, women constitute about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a type of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 nations – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Landmark Leadership

Even so, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could alter how women perceive their prospects.

“There is great significance in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the nation's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as authorities in companies and society, even as biased expectations and expectations still remain.

However a 20-year-old points out that, while it is notable Japan has its first female prime minister, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to get to that office.

“She's also not really challenging the norm. She's saying the identical views as the men.”

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 ensure we're discussing her agenda. We need to 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 defender of the male-dominated system.

Additionally, it is evident by which individuals her supporters within the LDP have been.

She's the protégé of the deceased former hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the party vote by a senior politician – a senior figure in the LDP at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most powerful conservative blocs.

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

“I believe that it is challenging for females to sort of identify with her success because it promotes this idea that we must be obedient with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.

Ms Ogura concurs, saying that with her as a symbol for females in government, “people are likely to anticipate the identical from women as well”.

“They're going to expect us to be conforming, not go against the beliefs that they have, and it could render our role more difficult.”

Future Challenges and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, though, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – including addressing a slow growth and rising prices and regaining the trust of a frustrated and irate voting public, as well as welcoming the US leader within a short time of taking power.

It's safe to say that no-one expects women's rights matters to be high on her agenda.