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To numerous female youth in Japan currently, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's first ever woman prime minister is powerful and influential.

It means a male-oriented culture and a political system that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a female.

However, although the appearances suggest a progressive moment, certain females do not view her as an champion of progress.

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

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

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

Instead, Ms Ogura points to her “political beliefs and what she represents,” adding: “She perpetuates 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 nation.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.

Analysts note her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to attract the more conservative supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has consistently voted against laws that would permit spouses to have different last names, preventing many females from keeping their maiden names.

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

However, she did soften some of her messaging during her election bid – saying she supports giving tax incentives to businesses that provide childcare facilities to their employees and mentioned possible deductions for families spending on childcare.

Yet she has over the years supported the notion of a conventional role for women in society and in the family.

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

Japan's Gender Gap in Context

Women in Japan are some of the most highly educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a traditional culture 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 female representation in the political arena notably low.

Leadership positions have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the number of female lawmakers and business leaders.

The globally fourth biggest economy ranks at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. In detail, women constitute about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the lowest figure among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “emergency” pill – a form of emergency contraception sold over the counter in over ninety countries – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Landmark Leadership

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's ascent as a pivotal moment that could alter how women view their opportunities.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” a former mayor – who became the nation's youngest female mayor in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.

Koshi argued Japan having a woman prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for women and girls, enabling them to believe it is acceptable to “excel” as authorities in businesses and society, even as gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.

But a 20-year-old notes that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, it is important to recall it required her over three decades to get to that position.

“She's also not really challenging the norm. She's saying the same thing as the male politicians.”

The young woman adds that she ought not be placed on a platform simply because she is a woman.

“It is essential to ensure we're talking about her agenda. We need to be capable of evaluate her fairly as everyone else.”

Political Background and Associations

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

It's also apparent by who her supporters inside the party have been.

She's the protégé of the late ex- hawkish prime minister Shinzo Abe, and was endorsed in the leadership election by a senior politician – a senior figure in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most powerful right-wing factions.

Their group'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 sort of identify with her achievement because it furthers this notion that we must be obedient with the existing system,” 21-year-old a citizen says.

The 21-year-old agrees, stating that with her as a symbol for women in government, “the public are going to expect the same from us as too”.

“They will demand women to be compliant, not go against the ideals that they have, and it might make our job more difficult.”

Upcoming Obstacles and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, however, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will face – including tackling a slow growth and rising prices and winning back the trust of a frustrated and irate voting public, as in addition to welcoming 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.