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For many female youth in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's inaugural woman leader is powerful and influential.

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

However, although the optics speak of a forward-thinking era, certain females do not view her as an champion of progress.

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

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a significant chance for women empowerment and equal rights in Japan’.

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

Conversely, Ms Ogura highlights her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” adding: “She reinforces the patriarchal system.”

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

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm conservative.

Observers say her ascension is a tactical move from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning base which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against same-sex marriage and has long stood against legislation that would permit spouses to have different last names, preventing many women from retaining their maiden names.

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

Nonetheless, she moderated certain her messaging during her campaign – saying she favours giving financial benefits to companies that provide childcare facilities to their employees and mentioned potential tax breaks for families investing in child-rearing.

Yet she has historically backed the idea of a conventional role for females in the community and in the home.

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

Japan's Inequality in Perspective

Women in Japan are among the most highly educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they struggle with the demands of a conservative society that still directs them into conventional positions.

According to the latest equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th out of among 148 countries, with female representation in the political arena notably low.

Top roles have historically been held by males and Japan has faced difficulties to boost the quantity 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 share of women in its national parliament. In detail, women constitute about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of emergency contraception sold over the counter in over ninety nations – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Differing Reactions to the Landmark Appointment

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could alter how women perceive their opportunities.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” a former mayor – who became the country's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan having a female prime minister will “reduce psychological barriers” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is normal to “excel” as authorities in companies and society, despite gender-based stereotypes and expectations still remain.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is notable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, it is important to recall it took her over three decades to reach that office.

“She's also 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 pedestal just due to the fact she is a woman.

“It is essential to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We need to be able to evaluate her fairly as all other leaders.”

Political Context and Influences

It is not only what Takaichi has said which has led people to label her as a supporter of the male-dominated system.

It's also evident by which individuals her champions within the LDP have were.

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

Their group's backing for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in consolidating the conservative wing behind her.

“I do feel that it is difficult for women to somewhat identify with her achievement because it promotes this notion that we must be compliant with the existing system,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi says.

Ms Ogura concurs, saying that with her as a symbol for women in politics, “the public are likely to anticipate the same from us as too”.

“They will demand us to be conforming, not go against the beliefs that they hold, and it might make our role harder.”

Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – not least tackling a sluggish economy and rising prices and regaining the confidence of a discontented and irate electorate, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within a short time of assuming office.

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