YAWATA, Japan — Shoko Kawata, the mayor of Yawata, has become the first current mayor in Japan to take maternity leave, a move capturing international attention and some local criticism. Serving a city with a population of around 69,000 in western Japan, Kawata became Japan’s youngest female mayor at age 33 in 2023 and planned for children during her tenure.
City employees in Yawata receive 16 weeks of guaranteed maternity leave, but no protocol existed for the mayor. Kawata established one herself, expressing her surprise at being the first mayor to do so, and highlighting a lack of young women in mayoral roles.
Her final public duty before leave was participating in a street procession for the Taiko festival, where she walked behind the portable Shinto shrine instead of riding on top as tradition dictates.
Despite the milestone of Sanae Takaichi becoming Japan’s first female prime minister last year, the country suffers from a significant gender gap in politics, ranking 118th globally in the World Economic Forum’s gender gap report, and 125th in political empowerment.
Kawata emphasized the need for reform, as Japan faces very low birth rates and aging demographics. Japanese women are entitled to about 14 weeks of maternity leave at roughly two-thirds of their pay plus a birth bonus. Government workers often receive more favorable conditions.
She stressed the importance of constructing a society where people across professions, including leadership roles, feel comfortable having children, to counteract population decline and economic issues.
Kawata noted encouragement from colleagues and local residents but expressed disappointment over some online criticism accompanying media coverage of her leave, with her baby’s birth expected in September.
Most interviewed residents supported Kawata’s decision, though opinions varied on her full salary during leave. Chie Fujita, a homemaker, voiced disagreement regarding the 100% salary, while acknowledging the importance of maternity leave.
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