Sanae Takaichi: Japan's First Female Prime Minister Faces Critical Scrutiny

Wed Oct 22 2025 05:32:31 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Sanae Takaichi has made history as Japan's first female prime minister, yet her conservative stance raises questions about her impact on gender equality in a traditionally patriarchal society.

Sanae Takaichi's appointment as Japan’s first female leader marks a significant milestone in the country’s political landscape. While many celebrate this as a win for women's representation, critics highlight her conservative policies and alignment with the patriarchal system, suggesting that her leadership may not challenge longstanding gender norms. The contradictions in her position reveal concerns among young women about whether her term will genuinely foster progress for gender equality.

For many young girls in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm of power as the country's first ever female leader is powerful and formative.

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

But while the optics speak of a progressive moment, some women don't see her as an advocate for change.

It was quite interesting to see how people outside Japan have reacted to the news, Ayda Ogura, 21, says.

Everyone's like, 'wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan'.

I think that's a very naive interpretation.

Instead, Ms Ogura points to her political beliefs and what she stands for, adding: She perpetuates the patriarchal system.

A big fan of Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the Iron Lady of her country.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative. Observers say her leadership is a tactical move from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to appeal to the more conservative base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has long stood against legislation that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many women from keeping their maiden names.

However, during her campaign, she softened some of her messaging, advocating for tax incentives to companies offering childcare facilities and tax breaks for families spending on childcare.

Despite this, she has backed a more traditional role for women in society and the family, consistent with Japan's less than impressive record on gender issues.

Japanese women are among the best educated and highest qualified globally yet struggle with conservative societal expectations. Japan ranks 118th on the 2025 gender gap index among 148 countries, with only 15.7% of lawmakers in the national parliament being women.

Despite concerns about Takaichi's conservative policies, some see her rise as a pivotal moment for women's prospects in Japan. Naomi Koshi, the country's youngest female mayor in 2012, stated that her prime ministership would lower psychological barriers for women seeking leadership roles.

However, critics like Audrey Hill-Uekawa highlight that Takaichi shouldn't be elevated merely for her gender, emphasizing the importance of scrutinizing her policies critically.

Making history was just the beginning of the challenges she faces, including addressing inflation and restoring voter trust; gender equality issues may not be at the forefront of her agenda.