PM Sanae Takaichi, Japan's Iron Lady 2.0

Sanae Takaichi, newly elected Japan's Prime Minister. [AFP]

Sanae Takaichi, a staunch conservative who admires Margaret Thatcher, became Japan's first woman prime minister on Tuesday, but analysts say her rise does not necessarily signal a feminist victory.

Instead, the 64-year-old, who won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership this month, has positioned herself as a hardliner focused on defence and economic security.