For many young girls in Japan currently, the sight of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm as the nation's first ever female leader is powerful and formative.
This signifies a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has long been dominated by men is currently headed by a woman.
But while the optics 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 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 significant chance for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan’.
In my opinion that's a very naive view.”
Conversely, the young woman points to her “political beliefs and what she stands for,” noting: “She perpetuates the patriarchal system.”
A big fan of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her nation.
And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch right-wing politician.
Observers say her ascension is a tactical move from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to attract the more conservative base which had lately shifted towards Japan's parties further to the right.
Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has long stood against laws that would allow spouses to have different last names, preventing many women from keeping their birth surnames.
Additionally, she is opposed to women being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.
However, she moderated some of her statements during her campaign – stating she supports giving tax incentives to businesses that provide childcare facilities to their employees and spoke of possible tax breaks for families spending on childcare.
But she has over the years supported the notion of a more traditional role for females in society and in the family.
When it comes to gender matters, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's subpar record on gender issues.
The Country's Gender Gap in Context
Women in Japan are among the best educated and most skilled in the globe and yet they struggle with the demands of a conservative society that still pushes them into traditional roles.
Based on the latest gender gap index by the global organization, Japan ranked 118th among 148 nations, with female representation in the political arena notably low.
Leadership positions have historically been held by males and Japan has struggled to boost the quantity of women legislators and business leaders.
The globally fourth biggest economy places at the bottom among the G7 countries when it comes to the percentage of women in its legislative body. Specifically, females constitute about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.
It is even slow when it comes to women's reproductive health: only this week was it revealed that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 countries – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.
Mixed Responses to the Historic Leadership
Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's rise to power as a pivotal moment that could alter how females view their prospects.
“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi assuming the role of prime minister, with a wider influence on society,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the nation's youngest female city leader in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.
She contended Japan having a female prime minister will “reduce mental obstacles” for females of all ages, enabling them to believe it is normal to “excel” as authorities in businesses and society, even as biased expectations and expectations still persist.
But 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 more than 30 years to get to that office.
“She's also not truly challenging the grain. She expresses the identical views as the men.”
Ms Hill-Uekawa adds that she ought not be placed on a pedestal just due to the fact she is a woman.
“It is essential to make sure we're talking about her agenda. We must be capable of criticise her equally as everyone else.”
Political Background and Associations
It is not just what Takaichi has stated which has led people to label her as a supporter of the male-dominated system.
It's also apparent by which individuals her champions within the LDP have been.
She was mentored of the late ex- hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the LDP at the head of one of the ruling party's most influential right-wing factions.
His faction's support for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in uniting the party's right wing behind her.
“I do feel that it is challenging for females to somewhat identify with her achievement because it promotes this idea that we must be compliant with the status quo,” young adult Minori Konishi says.
Ms Ogura concurs, saying that with her as a figurehead for women in politics, “people are going to expect the identical from women as too”.
“They will demand women to be conforming, not go against the ideals that they have, and it might make our job harder.”
Upcoming Obstacles and Anticipations
Achieving this milestone, though, was just the first of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – including tackling a sluggish economy and rising prices and regaining the confidence of a frustrated and angry electorate, as well as welcoming 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.
