🔗 Share this article

For many young girls in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's inaugural woman leader is impactful and formative.

It means a male-oriented culture and a political system that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a female.

But while the optics speak of a progressive moment, some women don't see her as an advocate for change.

It was rather interesting to observe how individuals beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the news,” Ayda Ogura states.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and equal rights in Japan’.

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

Instead, Ms Ogura highlights her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” noting: “She reinforces the male-dominated structure.”

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 right-wing politician.

Analysts note her ascension is a tactical move from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the more conservative supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

The leader is against marriage equality and has long stood against laws that would allow spouses to have separate surnames, blocking many females from keeping their birth surnames.

She's also opposed to females being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

However, she moderated certain her messaging during her campaign – stating she supports giving financial benefits to businesses that provide daycare services to their employees and mentioned potential tax breaks for households investing in child-rearing.

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

Regarding women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her country's subpar performance on gender issues.

Japan's Inequality in Perspective

Japanese women are some of the best educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they struggle with the demands 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 nearly 150 nations, with women's presence in the political arena notably low.

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

The world's fourth largest economy places last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of females in its national parliament. Specifically, females constitute about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of emergency contraception available without prescription in over ninety countries – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Historic Leadership

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

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

Koshi argued Japan electing a female prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is normal to “excel” as leaders in companies and society, despite biased expectations and norms still remain.

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

“Additionally, she is not really challenging the norm. She's saying the same thing as the men.”

The young woman further states that she shouldn't be put on a pedestal simply because she is a female.

“It is essential to ensure we're discussing her policies. We must be capable of evaluate her fairly as all other leaders.”

Ideological Context and Associations

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

It's also apparent by who her supporters within the LDP have were.

She was mentored of the deceased ex- hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a senior figure in the LDP at the head of one of the government's most powerful conservative blocs.

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

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

The 21-year-old concurs, saying that with her as a symbol for females in politics, “the public are going to expect the same from women as too”.

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

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will face – including tackling a sluggish economy and inflation and winning back the confidence of a discontented and angry electorate, as well as welcoming president Trump within days of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects women's rights matters to be high on her agenda.