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For many young girls in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's inaugural female prime minister is powerful and influential.

It means a patriarchal society and a political system that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a woman.

But while the optics speak of a forward-thinking era, some women do not view her as an advocate for change.

“It was quite interesting to observe how people outside Japan have reacted to the announcement,” Ayda Ogura states.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the first female 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.”

Instead, the young woman points to her “ideological stance and what she represents,” adding: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

A big fan of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Iron Lady” of her nation.

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

Observers say her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to attract the increasingly right-leaning supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has consistently voted against legislation that would permit spouses to have separate surnames, blocking many females from retaining their birth surnames.

She's also against women being in line for succession in the royal household.

Nonetheless, she moderated certain her statements during her campaign – stating she supports giving financial benefits to companies that provide daycare services to their staff and mentioned potential tax breaks for families spending on childcare.

But she has over the years backed the notion of a more traditional role for females in the community and in the family.

When it comes to women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar record on gender issues.

Japan's Inequality in Context

Japanese women are some of 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 gender gap index by the global organization, Japan placed 118th among nearly 150 nations, with female representation in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of women legislators and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economy places at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the share of women in its national parliament. Specifically, women constitute about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of post-coital birth control available without prescription in over ninety nations – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Leadership

Even so, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a pivotal moment that could change how females view their opportunities.

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on society,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the nation's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan having a female prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as leaders in companies and the community, despite gender-based stereotypes and expectations still persist.

However a 20-year-old notes that, while it is notable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, it is important to recall it took her over three decades to get to that position.

“Additionally, she is not truly going against the norm. She expresses the same thing as the male politicians.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she shouldn't be put on a platform simply because she is a woman.

“It is essential to make sure we're discussing her policies. We must be able to criticise her fairly as all other leaders.”

Political Background and Influences

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

It's also evident by which individuals her supporters inside the party have been.

She was mentored of the deceased ex- hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the party vote by a senior politician – a prominent member in the LDP at the head of one of the ruling party's most influential conservative blocs.

Their group's backing for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal 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 idea that we must be compliant with the existing system,” young adult a citizen remarks.

The 21-year-old concurs, stating that with her as a figurehead for women in government, “people are likely to anticipate the same from women as too”.

“They will demand women to be compliant, not go against the beliefs that they have, and it could render our job harder.”

Upcoming Obstacles and Anticipations

Making history, however, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a slow growth and rising prices and winning back the trust of a discontented and angry voting public, as well as welcoming the US leader within a short time of assuming office.

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