Japanese Mayor Becomes First to Take Maternity Leave

Shoko Kawata, mayor of the Japanese city of Yawata, became the country’s first sitting mayor to take maternity leave on Monday, drawing some criticism at home and considerable attention from international media.

Kawata leads a city of about 69,000 people in western Japan. She said she had planned to have children when she was elected Japan’s youngest female mayor in 2023 at the age of 33.

Although Yawata city employees are guaranteed 16 weeks of maternity leave, no such protocol existed for the mayor, forcing Kawata to create one.

She told Reuters that she was surprised to be the first mayor to take maternity leave, saying it reflected the scarcity of young women – and women generally – in leadership positions in Japanese local government.

Kawata called for reforms that would allow people in all professions, including senior officials, to have children without hesitation. Otherwise, she warned, falling birth rates would lead to continued population decline and economic deterioration.

Most residents and colleagues supported her decision, but she was disappointed by online criticism suggesting that she was neglecting her duties. Some also objected to her receiving her full salary while on leave. Her baby is due in September.

(Reuters, bak)