**Title: Japanese Mayor Shoko Kawata Makes History with Maternity Leave Amid Criticism**
Shoko Kawata, the mayor of Yawata, a city in western Japan with a population of approximately 69,000, has made headlines as the first sitting mayor in the country to take maternity leave. This groundbreaking decision, which took effect on Monday, has garnered both support and criticism, drawing significant attention from international media.
Kawata, who became Japan's youngest female mayor at the age of 33 earlier this year, expressed her intention to have children when she assumed office. However, she discovered that while Yawata city employees are entitled to 16 weeks of maternity leave, no formal protocol existed for the mayoral position. In response, she took the initiative to establish a maternity leave policy for herself, highlighting the lack of representation of young women in political leadership roles in Japan.
“I was very surprised myself to learn that I am the first mayor to (take maternity leave). It made me realize that until now there simply haven’t been many young women, or women in general, who have become mayors,” Kawata stated during a press briefing at Yawata City Hall.
Before commencing her leave, one of Kawata's final public engagements involved participating in a street procession for Yawata's Taiko festival. Despite her pregnancy, she chose to walk behind the mikoshi, a portable Shinto shrine, rather than riding on it as is customary.
Japan's political landscape has been historically dominated by men, and the country continues to face significant challenges regarding gender equality. In the World Economic Forum's most recent gender gap report, Japan ranked 118 out of 148 countries, with a particularly low standing in political empowerment, where it placed 125th. Kawata emphasized the need for reforms to support women in leadership roles, especially as Japan grapples with one of the lowest birth rates in the world.
“People talk about gender equality and work-style reform, but we need to build a society in which people, across all professions, including among those in leadership roles, do not hesitate to have children. Otherwise, I believe continual population decline resulting from falling birth rates, and the resulting economic deterioration are inevitable,” Kawata remarked.
While many local residents expressed support for Kawata's decision to take maternity leave, she faced backlash online. Some critics suggested that she was neglecting her responsibilities as mayor. “People who had never heard of me before only learned about me through reports focusing on the maternity leave. Some people criticized me online, suggesting that I wasn’t doing my job and was just there to take maternity leave. That was disappointing,” Kawata reflected.
Opinions among Yawata residents varied. While many supported her right to take leave, some, like local homemaker Chie Fujita, raised concerns about Kawata receiving her full salary during this period. “I’m a woman, and I’ve given birth myself, so I believe that as a woman’s right, she should be able to take time off when giving birth. However, regarding her salary, I don’t really agree with her receiving 100% of it while she’s on leave,” Fujita stated.
Kawata's maternity leave comes at a time when Japan is striving to address its declining birth rate and promote gender equality in the workplace and beyond. Her decision may serve as a catalyst for discussions on the need for more inclusive policies that support working mothers in leadership positions.
As she prepares for the arrival of her baby, due in September, Kawata's pioneering move has sparked a broader conversation about the challenges and expectations faced by women in politics, as well as the importance of creating an environment where women can balance family and career without stigma or financial disadvantage.