Society First sitting mayor in Japan takes maternity leave

This is quite revolutionary and, after a cursory check, also uncommon overseas: Kawata Shoko, the mayor of Yawata, is preparing to become the first sitting female mayor in Japan to take maternity leave. She said she had already begun coordinating arrangements with municipal officials and hoped the move would encourage broader discussion about working conditions for women in leadership positions. Speaking at a news conference on 26 May, the 35-year-old mayor said she planned to begin maternity leave on 20 July and remain away from work until around early November. Her child is due in mid-September.


Kawata said she hoped the decision would help speed up debate over creating better institutional support and workplace systems for women leaders. The case is believed to be the first of its kind in Japan in which a serving female municipal leader has taken maternity leave. Public reaction has been mixed, with some expressing support and others criticising the move.

With little precedent, Japan's Labor Standards Law provisions on maternity leave do not apply to mayors, who are special public officials, and there is no relevant provision in the city's ordinances. As a result, Kawata will take leave in accordance with Yawata city ordinance provisions on city employees' leave and the city assembly's rules of procedure, following the standard period of eight weeks before and eight weeks after childbirth. After the media reported about her maternity leave on May 21, around 70 opinions were submitted to the city government by phone and email. Many expressed support, saying, "Taking maternity leave is wonderful—do your best." However, some were critical, questioning, "Why now, when the term of office is fixed? Isn't this irresponsible?"

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During her leave, the deputy mayor will act as mayor. Major matters will still be reported to Kawata online at least once a week.

It sounds pretty irresponsible to me. She's taking almost two months off before the baby arrives. There's no reason to do that unless you're feeling sick. There's not that much do to before B-Day.

The decision by Yawata Mayor Shoko Kawata to take maternity leave has sparked debate across Japan. As the country's first sitting mayor to give birth while in office, Kawata's case has drawn attention to the challenges faced by working mothers in politics and renewed discussion about gender roles, childcare and demographic decline.

Here's a follow-up by The Guardian: