Japan’s First Maternity‑Leave Mayor Named on Time’s 100 Rising Stars List
Shoko Kawata, 36, mayor of Yawata City in Kyoto prefecture, has been added to TIME magazine’s 100 most influential rising stars after becoming Japan’s first elected official to take maternity leave.
Kawata gave birth to a daughter on 15 September, shortly after a national conversation about the feasibility of public office holders taking time off for childbirth. Her decision to step away from city duties for 16 weeks—while working remotely when possible—prompted both praise and criticism across social media.
Supporters pointed out that maternity leave for local officials could encourage more women to enter politics and noted that Japan’s overall birth rate remains low. Others condemned the move as “irresponsible” and argued that officials should either avoid pregnancy during tenure or resign. A few voices even called for pay cuts during leave.
In a BBC sit‑down interview before her birth, Kawata dismissed the backlash, saying “If we criticize politicians taking maternity leave, we effectively exclude all women in their 20s through 40s—women who are capable of becoming pregnant—from public office.” She emphasized that her experience as a new parent should inform her future policy work, especially around parenting and childcare.
While Japanese city workers are entitled to maternity leave, no legal framework exists for elected officials. Kawata worked with her office to devise a temporary power‑transfer plan to deputy mayor Shigeto Nose. She continues to oversee city affairs by remote collaboration and public statements.
After announcing her birth on X, she thanked supporters and reaffirmed her commitment to tackling social issues at a national level. “I want to reflect those experiences in real time into the policies I pursue,” she wrote.
Kawata’s case may shape future discussions about gender equality and work‑life balance in Japan’s political landscape, potentially prompting lawmakers to create clearer guidelines for public office holders who become parents.
