Sanae Takaichi is poised to become Japan’s first female prime minister after winning leadership of the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).  Despite the milestone, many women in Japan view her ascent with skepticism.

At 64, Takaichi has presented promises to increase female representation in the cabinet.  Yet her track record is strongly conservative: she has previously resisted reforms aimed at gender equality, opposed same-sex marriage, and upheld traditional roles for women as wives and mothers.  Critics fear her loyalty to male party elites will limit her ability to push progressive change.

Women comprise only about 15 percent of Japan’s lower house, and just 2 out of 47 prefectural governors are female.  Her rise comes in a country routinely ranked low on gender equality. Her past tenure includes roles such as minister of economic security and internal affairs.