"There is a prevailing idea that people should sacrifice personal lives for careers."
Shoko Kawata, the 35-year-old mayor of Yawata, Japan, announced she would take maternity leave, becoming the first incumbent mayor to do so. She informed the city assembly on Monday that her deputy would manage city operations during her absence.
National Debate & Editorial Support
The announcement generated significant media coverage and public debate. The Mainichi newspaper published an editorial supporting Kawata, stating that organizations should create structures to support such leave and that Japan needs an environment where taking leave is normalized.
The Legal Gap
Japan grants maternity leave to working mothers, but the law does not apply to city mayors. Kawata is the first mayor to take it while in office.
Broader Context
In the 2023 Global Gender Gap Report, Japan ranked 118th out of 148 countries, the lowest among G7 nations. Only 30% of councillors in Japan are women, and 1.2% are under 40.
Kawata's Perspective
Kawata said she did not expect the decision to be so controversial. She stated that while men can physically continue working during a partner's childbirth, women cannot. She hopes her decision will encourage more women to enter politics.
Local Leadership & Plans
Kawata was elected mayor in 2023 at age 33, making her Japan's youngest female mayor. She ran as an independent on a platform of improving childcare. Her constituency's population decreased from 74,329 in 2002 to 67,876 as of April 2024. She plans to return to work by December, following national standard leave.