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For many female youth in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the country's first ever woman prime minister is impactful and formative.

This signifies a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is now led by a female.

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

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

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in the nation's past 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 points to her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” 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 country.

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

Analysts note her leadership is a strategic decision from the ruling LDP to attract the more conservative base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has long stood against legislation that would allow spouses to have separate surnames, blocking many women from retaining their maiden names.

She's also opposed to females being in line for succession in the royal household.

However, she did soften some of her messaging during her campaign – stating she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that offer daycare services to their employees and mentioned potential tax breaks for families spending on child-rearing.

Yet she has over the years backed the idea of a conventional role for women in the community and in the home.

Regarding women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar record on equality concerns.

The Country's Gender Gap in Perspective

Women in Japan are some of the most highly educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they struggle with the demands of a conservative society that still pushes them into traditional roles.

Based on the latest equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th among 148 nations, with women's presence in the political arena notably low.

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

The world's fourth largest economic power places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of women in its legislative body. In detail, women constitute about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to women's reproductive health: only this week was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a type of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 nations – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Historic Leadership

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

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who became the country's youngest female mayor in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “stand out” as authorities in companies and society, despite 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 office.

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

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she ought not be placed on a platform simply because she is a woman.

“It is essential to make sure we're talking about her policies. We must be capable of criticise her equally as everyone else.”

Political Context and Influences

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

It's also evident by which individuals her supporters within the LDP have been.

She was mentored of the deceased former conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the LDP at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most influential conservative blocs.

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

“I do feel that it is difficult for females to somewhat relate to her achievement because it promotes this idea that we must be obedient with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi says.

Ms Ogura concurs, saying that with her as a figurehead for females in politics, “people are going to expect the identical from us as well”.

“They will demand women to be compliant, not oppose the beliefs that they hold, and it might make our role more difficult.”

Future Challenges and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, though, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will face – not least addressing a sluggish economy and inflation and winning back the trust of a frustrated and irate voting public, as in addition to hosting president Trump within days of taking power.

It's safe to say that few anticipate women's rights matters to be high on her priority list.