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

This signifies a patriarchal society and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a female.

But while the appearances speak of a progressive moment, certain females do not view her as an champion of progress.

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

People are saying, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a significant chance for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan’.

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

Instead, the young woman highlights her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” adding: “She perpetuates the male-dominated structure.”

A strong admirer of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her country.

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 more extreme conservative groups.

The leader is against marriage equality and has long stood against legislation that would permit spouses to have separate surnames, preventing many females from keeping their birth surnames.

Additionally, she is opposed to females being in eligible for the throne in the royal household.

However, she did soften some of her messaging during her election bid – saying she favours giving financial benefits to businesses that offer childcare facilities to their employees and spoke of possible tax breaks for families investing in childcare.

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

When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her country's less than impressive performance on equality concerns.

The Country's Gender Gap in Context

Japanese women are some of the most highly educated and highest qualified in the globe and yet they face challenges with the expectations of a traditional culture that still pushes them into conventional positions.

According to the latest equality ranking by the global organization, Japan placed 118th out of among nearly 150 countries, with women's presence in the field of politics particularly minimal.

Top roles have historically been held by males and Japan has faced difficulties to increase the number of female lawmakers and corporate executives.

The world's fourth largest economy ranks at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of females in its national parliament. Specifically, females constitute 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: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 countries – had finally been approved for non-prescription sales in Japan.

Differing Responses to the Landmark Leadership

Nonetheless, some see Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could change how females view their opportunities.

“It is highly meaningful in the new prime minister assuming the role of prime minister, with a broader impact on society,” a former mayor – who became the nation's youngest female city leader in 2012 – told Japan's Kyodo news agency.

She contended Japan having a woman prime minister will “lower mental obstacles” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “excel” as authorities in companies and the community, even as biased expectations and expectations still remain.

However a 20-year-old points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, it is important to recall it required her more than 30 years to get to that office.

“She's also not really going against the grain. She's saying the same thing as the men.”

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

“We need to make sure we're talking about her agenda. We need to be capable of evaluate her fairly as all other leaders.”

Political Background and Influences

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

It's also evident by who her champions inside the party have were.

She's the protégé of the deceased former hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the LDP at the leadership of one of the ruling party's most influential conservative blocs.

Their group's support for Sanae Takaichi was crucial in consolidating the conservative wing in her favor.

“I believe that it is difficult for women to sort of identify with her success because it promotes this notion that we have to be compliant with the status quo,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi remarks.

Ms Ogura concurs, saying that with her as a symbol for females in politics, “people are likely to anticipate the identical from women as too”.

“They will demand us to be compliant, not go against the beliefs that they have, 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 – including addressing a slow growth and rising prices and regaining the confidence of a frustrated and angry voting public, as well as hosting president Trump within a short time of assuming office.

It's safe to say that few anticipate women's rights matters to be a top priority on her agenda.