Japan's first mayor to take maternity leave lands on TIME100 Next list
Shoko Kawata, the mayor of Yawata City, has been named to the TIME100 Next list following her decision to take maternity leave. Her choice sparked a national debate in Japan regarding the role of women in politics and the lack of legal frameworks for elected officials to balance family life with public duty.
Why it matters
It highlights the systemic challenges women face in balancing political careers with motherhood in traditional societies, potentially influencing future labor policy in Japan.
Figure caption, Watch: First mayor to take maternity leave causes backlash in Japan
Shoko Kawata, Japan's first mayor to take maternity leave, has been named one of the 100 most influential rising stars by TIME Magazine.
The recognition comes weeks after the 36-year-old gave birth to her first child on 15 September.
Earlier this year, Kawata, who is mayor of Yawata City in Kyoto prefecture, was plunged into a national debate about whether elected officials should take time off for childbirth.
Her decision to take maternity leave drew a mix of support and backlash across Japan, a country that is struggling to lift birth rates.
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