To numerous female youth in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi assuming leadership as the nation's inaugural woman leader is powerful and formative.
This signifies a patriarchal society and a political system that has historically been controlled by men is currently headed by a female.
But while the optics suggest a forward-thinking era, some women do not view her as an champion of progress.
It was rather fascinating to see how people outside Japan have responded to the announcement,” a 21-year-old states.
People are saying, ‘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 rather simplistic interpretation.”
Conversely, the young woman points to her “political beliefs and what she represents,” noting: “She reinforces the male-dominated structure.”
A big fan of Britain's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has long aspired to be the “Steel Magnolia” of her nation.
Similar to Thatcher, Takaichi is a firm right-wing politician.
Observers say her ascension is a strategic decision from the governing LDP to appeal to the increasingly right-leaning base which had lately shifted towards Japan's more extreme conservative groups.
Takaichi opposes marriage equality and has consistently voted against legislation that would allow married couples to have different last names, preventing many females from keeping their birth surnames.
Additionally, she is opposed to females being in eligible for the throne in the imperial family.
Nonetheless, she did soften some of her statements during her campaign – stating she supports giving financial benefits to companies that offer daycare services to their employees and spoke of possible tax breaks for families spending on childcare.
But she has historically backed the idea of a more traditional role for females in the community and in the home.
Regarding gender matters, Takaichi is consistent with her country's subpar performance on equality concerns.
Women in Japan are among the most highly educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they struggle with the expectations 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 out of among nearly 150 countries, with women's presence in the political arena particularly minimal.
Leadership positions have historically been held by males and Japan has struggled to increase the number of female lawmakers and business leaders.
The world's fourth largest economy places at the bottom among the Group of Seven nations when it comes to the percentage of women in its national parliament. In detail, women make up about less than 16% of legislators in Japan, the smallest proportion among the seven major economies.
It is even slow when it comes to female healthcare: only this week was it announced that the “morning after” pill – a type of post-coital birth control available without prescription in more than 90 countries – had at last been authorized for over the counter use in Japan.
Even so, certain individuals view Takaichi's rise to power as a critical juncture that could change how women perceive their opportunities.
“There is great significance in the new prime minister becoming prime minister, with a wider influence on the public,” Naomi Koshi – who became the nation's most youthful woman city leader in 2012 – informed Japan's Kyodo news agency.
She contended Japan electing a female prime minister will “lower psychological barriers” for women and girls, helping them feel it is acceptable to “stand out” as authorities in businesses and the community, despite gender-based stereotypes and norms still persist.
But Audrey Hill-Uekawa points out that, while it is remarkable Japan has its first female leader, it is important to recall it took her more than 30 years to get to that office.
“She's also not really challenging the norm. She's saying the identical views as the male politicians.”
Ms Hill-Uekawa further states that she shouldn't be put on a platform simply because she is a female.
“We need to make sure we're talking about her policies. We must be capable of criticise her equally as everyone else.”
It is not only what Takaichi has said which has led people to label her as a defender of the patriarchy.
It's also evident by who her champions inside the party have were.
She was mentored of the late former hawkish prime minister a previous leader, and was backed in the party vote by Taro Aso – a prominent member in the ruling party at the leadership of one of the government's most influential conservative blocs.
Their group's backing for Sanae Takaichi was pivotal in consolidating the party's right wing behind her.
“I do feel that it is challenging for females to sort of relate to her achievement because it promotes this idea that we have to be compliant with the existing system,” young adult Minori Konishi says.
Ms Ogura agrees, saying that with her as a figurehead for women in government, “people are going to expect the same from us as well”.
“They're going to expect women to be compliant, not oppose the beliefs that they have, and it could render our job harder.”
Achieving this milestone, though, was only the initial of the challenges Takaichi will encounter – not least addressing a sluggish economy and inflation and winning back the confidence of a frustrated and irate electorate, as in addition to hosting president Trump within days of taking power.
It's safe to say that few anticipate gender equality issues to be a top priority on her agenda.
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