Japan’s First Sitting Mayor Takes Maternity Leave

The mayor of Yawata, a small city in Japan, made headlines by becoming the first sitting mayor in the country to take maternity leave. This move sparked debate domestically and caught international attention. Shoko Kawata, at 33, became Japan’s youngest female mayor in 2023. Despite planning for children upon assuming office, she discovered that no maternity leave policy existed for mayors, forcing her to address this gap.

Kawata expressed her surprise at being the first mayor to take such leave, highlighting the scarcity of young women in mayoral positions. Before her maternity leave, she participated in a street procession for Yawata’s Taiko festival, choosing to walk behind the traditional portable Shinto shrine, given her pregnancy condition.

Kawata noted the broader issue of gender inequality in Japanese politics, as shown in the World Economic Forum’s gender gap report where Japan ranked 118th out of 148 countries, and 125th in political empowerment. Despite Japan having maternity leave policies for employees, gaps remain for leadership roles.

She stressed the need for societal changes that encourage leaders to have children without hesitation, warning of economic decline from falling birth rates if reforms are not implemented. Her statement underscores the urgency of addressing gender equality and family planning in leadership roles.

Despite receiving support from locals and colleagues, Kawata faced online criticism. Detractors accused her of neglecting duties in favor of maternity leave. Most local residents backed her decision, but opinions varied on her receiving a full salary while on leave. Local homemaker Chie Fujita voiced her support for maternity leave but questioned Kawata’s full salary during this period.