For many young girls in Japan today, the image of Sanae Takaichi taking the helm of power as the country's first ever female leader is powerful and formative.
It means a patriarchal society and a political system that has long been dominated by men is now led by a woman.
But while the optics speak of a progressive moment, some women don't see her as an advocate for change.
It was quite interesting to see how people outside Japan have reacted to the news, Ayda Ogura, 21, says.
Everyone's like, 'wow, she's the first female prime minister in Japanese history and that would be a great opportunity for women empowerment and gender equality in Japan'.
I think that's a very naive interpretation.
Instead, Ms Ogura points to her political beliefs and what she stands for, adding: She perpetuates the patriarchal system. A big fan of Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi has always wanted to be the Iron Lady of her country.
And like Thatcher, Takaichi is a staunch conservative.
Observers say her leadership is a tactical move from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to appeal to the more conservative base which had recently gravitated towards Japan's parties further to the right.
Takaichi opposes same-sex marriage and has long stood against legislation that would allow married couples to have separate surnames, preventing many women from keeping their maiden names. She's also against women being in line for succession in the imperial family.
However, she did soften some of her messaging during her campaign - saying she favours giving tax incentives to companies that provide childcare facilities to their employees and spoke of possible tax breaks for families spending on childcare.
When it comes to women's issues, Takaichi is consistent with her country's less than impressive record on gender issues.
Japanese women are among the best educated and highest qualified in the world and yet they struggle with the expectations of a conservative society that still pushes them in traditional roles.
Despite her rise to power, many young women express skepticism, emphasizing the need for real policy change rather than symbolic representation.
As Takaichi navigates her new role, the expectations for true advancements in gender equality remain a focal point of concern among Japan's youth.
