The Nation's First Female Prime Minister: An Unprecedented Event that Comes with Caveats

For many young girls in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's first ever female leader is impactful and formative.

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

But while the appearances speak of a forward-thinking era, certain females do not view her as an champion of progress.

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

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.

In my opinion that's a very naive view.”

Conversely, the young woman highlights her “political beliefs and what she represents,” noting: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”

A strong admirer of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Iron Lady” of her nation.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Analysts note her leadership is a strategic decision from the ruling LDP to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has long stood against laws that would permit spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many women from keeping their maiden names.

Additionally, she is against females being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she moderated certain her statements during her election bid – stating she favours giving financial benefits to companies that provide childcare facilities to their staff and spoke of potential deductions for families spending on childcare.

But she has historically backed the notion of a more traditional position for women in the community and in the home.

Regarding women's issues, Takaichi is consistent with her nation's less than impressive performance on equality concerns.

The Country's Gender Gap in Perspective

Women in Japan are some of the best educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they struggle with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into conventional positions.

According to the latest equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th out of among 148 nations, with women's presence in the field of politics notably low.

Leadership positions have historically been held by men and Japan has faced difficulties to boost the number of women legislators and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economy places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the share of women in its national parliament. In detail, women make up about less than 16% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it revealed that the “emergency” pill – a type of post-coital birth control available without prescription in more than 90 nations – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Historic Appointment

Nonetheless, certain individuals view Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could alter how women perceive their prospects.

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” a former mayor – who became the country's youngest female mayor in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan electing a female prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as leaders in companies and the community, even as gender-based stereotypes and expectations still remain.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to get to that position.

“She's also not truly challenging the norm. She expresses the identical views as the male politicians.”

The young woman further states that she ought not be placed on a pedestal just due to the fact she is a female.

“It is essential to make sure we're discussing her agenda. We need to be able to criticise her equally as everyone else.”

Political Context and Associations

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

Additionally, it is apparent by who her champions inside the party have were.

She's the protégé of the late former conservative prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was backed in the party vote by a senior politician – a prominent member in the LDP at the head of one of the ruling party's most powerful conservative blocs.

His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in uniting the conservative wing in her favor.

“I believe that it is challenging for females to somewhat identify with her success because it furthers this idea that we have to be obedient with the existing system,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi says.

Ms Ogura agrees, stating that with her as a symbol for women in government, “people are likely to anticipate the identical from us as too”.

“They're going to expect women to be compliant, not go against the ideals that they hold, and it might make our role more difficult.”

Future Obstacles and Anticipations

Making history, though, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – not least tackling a slow growth and inflation and winning back the confidence of a discontented and irate electorate, as well as welcoming the US leader within a short time of taking power.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate gender equality issues to be high on her agenda.