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To numerous young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the country's inaugural woman prime minister is impactful and formative.

It means a patriarchal society and a political system that has long been dominated by men is now led by a woman.

However, although the appearances suggest a forward-thinking era, certain females do not view her as an advocate for change.

“It was quite interesting to observe how individuals beyond Japan's borders have reacted to the announcement,” a 21-year-old states.

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the first female prime minister in the nation's past and that would be a great opportunity for female advancement and equal rights in Japan’.

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

Instead, Ms Ogura points to her “ideological stance and what she represents,” adding: “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 firm conservative.

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

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has consistently voted against laws that would allow spouses to have different last names, blocking many females from retaining their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is against women being in line for succession in the imperial family.

Nonetheless, she did soften certain her messaging during her campaign – stating she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that provide daycare services to their staff and mentioned potential tax breaks for households spending on child-rearing.

Yet she has historically supported the notion of a conventional role for females in society and in the family.

Regarding women's issues, Takaichi is consistent with her country's subpar record on gender issues.

The Country's Inequality in Context

Women in Japan are some of the best 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 gender gap index by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th among nearly 150 nations, with women's presence in the political arena notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by men and Japan has struggled to boost the number of women legislators and business leaders.

The world's fourth largest economy places at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the share of women in its national parliament. Specifically, 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 women's reproductive health: recently was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of post-coital birth control available without prescription in more than 90 nations – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Reactions to the Landmark Leadership

Nonetheless, certain individuals view Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could alter how women view their opportunities.

“There is great significance in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the nation's youngest female city leader in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan electing a female prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for females of all ages, helping them feel it is normal to “excel” as authorities in companies and society, even as gender-based stereotypes and expectations still remain.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female prime minister, one must remember it took her over three decades to get to that office.

“Additionally, she is not truly going against the norm. She expresses the identical views as the male politicians.”

The young woman further states that she shouldn't be put on a platform just due to the fact she is a woman.

“We need to ensure we're discussing her policies. We must be capable of criticise her fairly as everyone else.”

Ideological Background and Influences

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

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

She's the protégé of the late former hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, 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 pivotal in consolidating the party's right wing behind her.

“I believe that it is difficult for females to somewhat identify with her success because it promotes this idea that we must be obedient with the existing system,” 21-year-old a citizen remarks.

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

“They will demand us to be compliant, not oppose the ideals that they have, and it might make our job harder.”

Future Challenges and Anticipations

Making history, however, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – including tackling a slow growth and rising prices and winning back the confidence of a frustrated and angry voting public, as in addition to welcoming president Trump within days of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that few anticipate women's rights matters to be high on her agenda.