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The Yawata City mayor’s recognition follows the birth of her first child and a debate in Japan over maternity leave for elected officials.
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Shoko Kawata, whom the BBC identifies as Japan’s first mayor to take maternity leave, has been named to TIME magazine’s TIME100 Next list of influential rising figures. The recognition comes weeks after the 36-year-old mayor of Yawata City, in Kyoto prefecture, gave birth to her first child on 15 September. [1]
Kawata arranged to transfer her authority to deputy mayor Shigeto Nose for 16 weeks while working remotely when she could. Japan provides maternity leave for city workers but has no legal framework for local elected officials, the BBC reported. [1]
Her decision drew support and criticism, including objections to an elected official stepping away from public duties. [1]
In an interview with the BBC before giving birth, Kawata argued that criticising politicians for taking maternity leave would effectively exclude women of childbearing age from public office. [1]
1 listed sources · explore evidence, limitations and provenance.
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