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

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

But while the optics speak of a forward-thinking era, some women do not view her as an champion of progress.

“It was quite fascinating to see how individuals beyond Japan's borders have responded to the news,” Ayda Ogura says.

“Everyone's like, ‘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’.

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

Conversely, the young woman highlights her “ideological stance and what she stands for,” adding: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

A strong admirer of Margaret Thatcher, Sanae Takaichi has always wanted to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her country.

And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch right-wing politician.

Observers say her leadership is a tactical move from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning base which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.

The leader is against marriage equality and has consistently voted against legislation that would permit married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many females from retaining their birth surnames.

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

However, she did soften certain her messaging during her campaign – saying she supports giving tax incentives to companies that offer daycare services to their staff and mentioned potential deductions for households investing in childcare.

Yet she has over the years backed the notion of a more traditional position for females in society and in the family.

Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's less than impressive record on equality concerns.

The Country's Inequality in Perspective

Japanese women are some of the best educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they face challenges with the demands of a traditional culture that still pushes them into traditional roles.

According to the latest equality ranking by the World Economic Forum, Japan placed 118th among nearly 150 countries, with women's presence in the field of politics notably low.

Top roles have traditionally been dominated by males and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the quantity of women legislators and business leaders.

The world's fourth largest economic power ranks last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. Specifically, females make up about 15.7% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the G7.

It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: recently was it announced that the “emergency” pill – a form of post-coital birth control sold over the counter in more than 90 nations – had at last been authorized for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Landmark Leadership

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's ascent as a critical juncture that could alter how women perceive their prospects.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who became the nation's youngest female mayor in 2012 – told local media.

She contended Japan electing a female prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is normal to “stand out” as leaders in businesses and the community, despite biased expectations and expectations still remain.

However a 20-year-old points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its inaugural woman prime minister, it is important to recall it took her over three decades to reach that office.

“Additionally, she is not really challenging the norm. She's saying the same thing as the men.”

Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she ought not be placed on a platform just due to the fact she is a female.

“It is essential to make sure we're talking about her policies. We need to be capable of criticise her fairly as everyone else.”

Political Background and Influences

It is not just what Takaichi has said which has caused individuals to describe her as a defender of the male-dominated system.

It's also evident by which individuals her champions within the LDP have been.

She was mentored of the deceased former hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the party vote by a senior politician – a prominent member in the LDP at the leadership of one of the government's most influential right-wing factions.

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

“I do feel that it is challenging for women to somewhat identify with her success because it promotes this notion that we must be compliant with the existing system,” 21-year-old a citizen remarks.

Ms Ogura concurs, saying that with her as a figurehead for females in politics, “the public are going to expect the identical from us as too”.

“They're going to expect women to be conforming, not oppose the beliefs that they have, and it could render our job more difficult.”

Upcoming Obstacles and Expectations

Achieving this milestone, however, was only the initial of the difficulties Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a sluggish economy and rising prices and winning back the trust of a frustrated and irate voting public, as well as hosting president Trump within days of taking power.

It's safe to say that no-one expects gender equality issues to be high on her agenda.