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For many young girls in Japan today, the sight of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's first ever female prime minister is powerful and formative.

It means a male-oriented culture and a government structure that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a woman.

But while the optics suggest a progressive moment, some women do not view her as an advocate for change.

“It was quite interesting to see how people outside Japan have reacted to the news,” a 21-year-old states.

“Everyone's like, ‘wow, she's the inaugural woman prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for female advancement and gender equality in Japan’.

“I think that's a very naive interpretation.”

Instead, Ms Ogura highlights her “ideological stance 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 “Iron Lady” of her country.

Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch right-wing politician.

Observers say her ascension is a tactical move from the governing LDP to attract the more conservative supporters which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.

Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has consistently voted against legislation that would permit married couples to have different last names, blocking many women from keeping their maiden names.

She's also against females being in eligible for the throne in the royal household.

Nonetheless, she moderated certain her messaging during her election bid – saying she supports giving tax incentives to businesses that provide childcare facilities to their employees and mentioned potential tax breaks for families spending on childcare.

But she has historically backed the notion of a more traditional role for women in society and in the family.

When it comes to women's issues, Takaichi is aligned with her nation's less than impressive record on gender issues.

The Country's Inequality in Context

Women in Japan are among the best educated and highest qualified in the world 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 World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 118th out of among 148 nations, with women's presence in the political arena notably low.

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

The globally fourth biggest economy places last among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the share of females in its national parliament. In detail, women constitute about 15.7% of lawmakers in Japan, the lowest figure among the seven major economies.

Progress is also sluggish when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a form of emergency contraception available without prescription in more than 90 nations – had finally been approved for over the counter use in Japan.

Mixed Responses to the Landmark Leadership

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

“It is highly meaningful in Ms Takaichi becoming prime minister, with a broader impact on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who was elected as the country's youngest female city leader in 2012 – told 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 leaders in companies and society, despite biased expectations and expectations still persist.

However Audrey Hill-Uekawa notes that, while it is notable Japan has its inaugural woman leader, one must remember it took her more than 30 years to get to that office.

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

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

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

Ideological Context and Influences

It is not only what Takaichi has said which has led people to label her as a defender of the patriarchy.

Additionally, it is evident by which individuals her supporters inside the party have been.

She was mentored of the late ex- conservative prime minister a previous leader, and was endorsed in the leadership election by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the ruling party at the head of one of the ruling party's most powerful conservative blocs.

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

“I believe that it is challenging for women to sort of identify with her achievement because it promotes this idea that we have to be obedient with the existing system,” 21-year-old Minori Konishi says.

The 21-year-old agrees, stating that with her as a symbol for females in politics, “the public are going to expect the identical from women as well”.

“They're going to expect us to be compliant, not go against the beliefs that they hold, and it might make our role harder.”

Future Challenges and Expectations

Making history, though, was just the first of the difficulties Takaichi will face – including tackling a slow growth and inflation and regaining the confidence of a discontented and angry voting public, as in addition to welcoming the US leader within a short time of assuming office.

One can reasonably assume that no-one expects women's rights matters to be high on her agenda.