🔗 Share this article

To numerous female youth in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's inaugural woman prime minister is impactful and influential.

It means a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is now led by a woman.

However, although the optics speak of a progressive moment, some women do not view her as an champion of progress.

“It was quite interesting to see how individuals beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the announcement,” Ayda Ogura says.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman 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, the young woman highlights her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” noting: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

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

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

Observers say her leadership is a tactical move from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to attract the increasingly right-leaning base which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has consistently voted against legislation that would allow spouses to have separate surnames, blocking many women from keeping their maiden names.

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

Nonetheless, she did soften certain her statements during her campaign – stating she supports giving financial benefits to companies that offer daycare services to their employees and mentioned potential tax breaks for households spending on child-rearing.

Yet she has over the years backed the idea of a more traditional position for women in the community and in the family.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her country's subpar performance on gender issues.

Japan's Gender Gap in Context

Women in Japan are some of the best educated and most skilled in the world and yet they struggle with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into traditional roles.

Based on the latest equality ranking by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th among 148 countries, with female representation in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to boost the number of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economic power ranks last among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. In detail, women constitute about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure 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 type of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in over ninety nations – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Appointment

Even so, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a pivotal moment that could change how women perceive their prospects.

“There is great significance in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on society,” a former mayor – who became the nation's most youthful woman mayor in 2012 – told local media.

Koshi argued Japan having a woman prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is normal to “stand out” as authorities in businesses and the community, despite biased expectations and expectations still remain.

But Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, one must remember it took her over three decades to reach that position.

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

Ms Hill-Uekawa adds that she shouldn't be put on a pedestal simply because she is a female.

“We need to ensure we're talking about her policies. We must be able to criticise her fairly as everyone else.”

Ideological Background and Influences

It is not just what Takaichi has stated which has caused individuals to describe her as a supporter of the patriarchy.

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

She was mentored of the late ex- conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the party vote by a senior politician – a prominent member in the ruling party at the head of one of the government's most influential right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is difficult for women to sort of relate to her success because it promotes this notion that we must be compliant with the status quo,” young adult a citizen says.

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

“They will demand us to be compliant, not oppose the ideals that they have, and it could render our job more difficult.”

Upcoming Challenges and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, though, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will face – not least tackling a sluggish economy and inflation and winning back the confidence of a frustrated and angry electorate, as in addition to welcoming the US leader within a short time of assuming office.

It's safe to say that no-one expects gender equality issues to be a top priority on her priority list.