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

But while the optics suggest a forward-thinking era, some women don't see her as an champion of progress.

“It was quite interesting to see how people outside Japan have reacted to the news,” a 21-year-old says.

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

“I think that's a very naive view.”

Conversely, the young woman points to her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” noting: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

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

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

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

The leader is against marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would permit spouses to have different last names, blocking many females from retaining their maiden names.

She's also against women being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she moderated some of her messaging during her election bid – saying she favours giving tax incentives to companies that offer daycare services to their employees and spoke of potential tax breaks for households spending on child-rearing.

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

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her country's subpar record on equality concerns.

Japan's Gender Gap in Context

Japanese women are some of the most highly educated and most skilled 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 equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among 148 nations, with female representation in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Top roles have historically been held by men and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of female lawmakers and business leaders.

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 legislative body. In detail, women constitute about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in more than 90 nations – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Historic Appointment

Nonetheless, certain individuals view Takaichi's rise to power as a pivotal moment that could change how females view their prospects.

“There is great significance in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” Naomi Koshi – who became the nation's youngest female mayor in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan electing a female prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for women and girls, helping them feel it is normal to “excel” as leaders in companies and the community, even as gender-based stereotypes and expectations still persist.

But a 20-year-old notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, one must remember it took her over three decades to get to that position.

“She's also not really challenging the norm. She expresses the identical views as the male politicians.”

The young woman adds that she shouldn't be put on a platform just due to the fact she is a woman.

“We need to ensure we're talking about her agenda. We must be capable of criticise her equally as everyone else.”

Political Background 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.

Additionally, it is evident by which individuals her supporters inside the party have been.

She's the protégé of the deceased ex- conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the LDP at the head of one of the ruling party's most influential right-wing factions.

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

“I believe that it is challenging for females to somewhat relate to her success because it promotes this notion that we have to be compliant with the existing system,” 21-year-old a citizen says.

Ms Ogura concurs, stating that with her as a figurehead for females in government, “people are going to expect the same from women as too”.

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

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, however, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – including tackling a slow growth and inflation and regaining the trust of a discontented and irate electorate, as well as hosting president Trump within a short time of assuming office.

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