YAWATA, Japan: The mayor of a small metropolis in Japan turned the primary sitting mayor within the nation to take maternity go away on July 20. The transfer has acquired some criticism inside Japan and has additionally drawn consideration from worldwide media.
Shoko Kawata, the mayor of Yawata, a metropolis of about 69,000 individuals in western Japan, mentioned she had all the time deliberate to have kids. She turned Japan’s youngest feminine mayor in 2023 on the age of 33.
She defined that whereas metropolis staff in Yawata are assured 16 weeks of maternity go away, there had by no means been any such rule for a mayor. Because of this, she needed to create a system for her personal go away.
Kawata mentioned she was very stunned to be taught that she was the primary mayor in Japan to take maternity go away. She added that this made her understand that only a few younger girls, or girls typically, had turn out to be mayors within the nation.
One of her final public appearances earlier than beginning her go away was on Friday, when she joined a road procession forward of Yawata’s Taiko competition. Usually, the mayor rides atop a mikoshi, a conveyable Shinto shrine, as a part of the custom. However, as a result of she is closely pregnant, Kawata selected to stroll behind it as an alternative.
Although Sanae Takaichi turned Japan’s first feminine prime minister final 12 months, the nation nonetheless has a big gender hole, particularly in politics, which males principally dominate. Japan ranked 118th out of 148 nations within the World Economic Forum’s newest gender hole report, and even decrease, at a hundred and twenty fifth, within the class of political empowerment.
Kawata mentioned there may be nonetheless a powerful want for reform, particularly as Japan faces an growing old inhabitants and one of many lowest beginning charges on this planet. She famous that Japanese girls are legally entitled to about 14 weeks of maternity go away, often paid at round two-thirds of their wage together with a beginning bonus, though some authorities staff obtain higher advantages.
She mentioned that whereas individuals usually speak about gender equality and modifications in work tradition, there’s a have to construct a society the place individuals in all professions, together with management roles, really feel snug having kids. She added that with out such modifications, Japan would proceed to face inhabitants decline because of falling beginning charges, which might result in financial issues.
Kawata mentioned that almost all residents supported her resolution and that her colleagues had inspired her to take go away. However, she additionally expressed disappointment at a few of the criticism she acquired on-line after the media broadly reported on her resolution. Her child is predicted in September.
She mentioned that many individuals who had by no means heard of her earlier than realized about her solely by means of experiences targeted on her maternity go away. She added that some on-line feedback accused her of not doing her job and instructed she was solely within the place to take go away, which she discovered disappointing.
Most Yawata residents interviewed mentioned they supported her resolution. However, some individuals raised considerations concerning the continued receipt of her full wage whereas on go away.
One resident and homemaker, Chie Fujita, mentioned that as a girl who had given beginning herself, she believed Kawata had the proper to take break day. At the identical time, she mentioned she didn’t agree with the mayor receiving one hundred pc of her wage throughout her go away.