To numerous female youth in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's inaugural woman prime minister is powerful and influential.
This signifies 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 suggest a forward-thinking era, certain females do not view her as an advocate for change.
“It was quite fascinating to observe how individuals beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the announcement,” Ayda Ogura states.
“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 gender equality in Japan’.
In my opinion 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 strong admirer 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.
Observers say her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the more conservative base which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.
The leader is against marriage equality and has consistently voted against laws that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many females from retaining their birth surnames.
Additionally, she is against females being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.
However, she moderated certain her messaging during her election bid – stating she favours giving tax incentives to businesses that offer daycare services to their staff and spoke of possible deductions for households spending on child-rearing.
But she has over the years supported the notion of a conventional role for women in society and in the family.
When it comes to women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar record on equality concerns.
The Country's Inequality in Context
Women in Japan are some of the most highly educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they face challenges with the demands of a conservative society that still pushes them into traditional roles.
Based on the latest equality ranking by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th out of among 148 nations, with women's presence in the political arena particularly minimal.
Top roles have historically been held by men and Japan has struggled to increase the quantity of women legislators and corporate executives.
The world's fourth largest economic power places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its legislative body. In detail, females make up about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.
Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: recently was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of emergency contraception available without prescription in over ninety nations – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.
Mixed Reactions to the Landmark Appointment
Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could change how females view their prospects.
“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” a former mayor – who became the country's youngest female city leader in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.
Koshi argued Japan electing a woman prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as authorities in businesses and society, even as biased expectations and norms still remain.
However Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is notable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, it is important to recall 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 men.”
Ms Hill-Uekawa adds that she ought not be placed on a pedestal just due to the fact she is a woman.
“We need to ensure we're discussing her agenda. We need to be able to evaluate her equally as all other leaders.”
Political Context and Influences
It is not just what Takaichi has said which has led people to label her as a supporter of the patriarchy.
Additionally, it is apparent by which individuals her champions within the LDP have been.
She's the protégé of the deceased former conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a senior figure in the LDP at the head of one of the government's most powerful right-wing factions.
His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in consolidating the conservative wing in her favor.
“I do feel that it is challenging for females to somewhat identify with her achievement because it promotes this idea that we have to be compliant with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi remarks.
Ms Ogura concurs, stating that with her as a symbol for females in government, “people are going to expect the same from us as well”.
“They're going to expect women to be compliant, not go against the beliefs that they have, and it might make our job more difficult.”
Upcoming Challenges and Anticipations
Making history, however, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – including addressing a slow growth and rising prices and regaining the confidence of a frustrated and angry voting public, as in addition to hosting president Trump within days of taking power.
One can reasonably assume that few anticipate gender equality issues to be a top priority on her priority list.
