The decision of 35-year-old Shoko Kawata, the mayor of Yawata in western Japan, to take maternity leave has ignited a nationwide debate over whether elected public officials should step away from office to have children.
Kawata, who is expecting her first child in mid-September, is set to become the first mayor in Japan’s history to take maternity leave, a move that has drawn both praise and criticism in a country grappling with declining birth rates and persistent gender inequality.
Speaking about the public reaction, Kawata admitted she did not anticipate the level of attention her announcement would attract.
“I was so surprised because the reaction was so big,” she said.
Yawata, located south of Kyoto and renowned for its historic shrines and picturesque cherry blossom-lined streets, has no legal framework that allows elected local officials to formally take maternity leave. Instead, Kawata has delegated her responsibilities to Deputy Mayor Shigeto Nose, who will exercise mayoral authority during her absence.
The mayor announced in May that she would step away from official duties for two months before her due date and two months after childbirth. During the four-month period, she planned to remain involved in major decisions through weekly remote consultations with her deputy.
According to Kawata, colleagues at City Hall, where the average staff age is 39, have been overwhelmingly supportive of her decision. Public opinion, however, has been sharply divided.
Supporters argued that her decision reflects the realities of balancing public service with family life and could encourage more women to pursue political careers. Others say it exposes the need for systems that better accommodate pregnancy and parenthood.
Critics, however, have described her decision as irresponsible, arguing that elected officials should prioritise public duties. Some suggested she should have postponed starting a family until after leaving office, while others called for salary reductions during her leave or even her resignation.
Kawata has dismissed the criticism, insisting that women should not have to choose between public service and motherhood.
“If we were to criticise politicians taking maternity leave, it means we are effectively excluding all women in their 20s through 40s—women who are capable of becoming pregnant—from public office,” she said.
Former Akitakata Mayor Shinji Ishimaru believed the controversy should instead prompt discussions about how governments can ensure continuity of leadership while supporting elected officials who become parents.
Kawata made history in 2023 when she became Japan’s youngest female city mayor at the age of 33. A graduate of Kyoto University with a degree in economics, she has built her political career in a field where women remain significantly underrepresented.
Official figures show that women account for only about four per cent of Japan’s 1,720 municipal leaders, highlighting the gender imbalance that continues to define the country’s political landscape.
A 2025 survey by Japan’s Cabinet Office identified pregnancy, gender stereotypes and harassment as some of the major obstacles preventing women from entering politics.
Although Japan provides statutory maternity and paternity leave for employees, elected officials are not covered by similar provisions. Mothers are entitled to six weeks of leave before childbirth and eight weeks afterward, while fathers can take up to four weeks of paid leave shortly after a child’s birth. Parents may also access childcare leave until a child turns one year old under certain conditions.
Deputy Mayor Nose, who will oversee the city’s administration during Kawata’s absence, acknowledged that attitudes toward parenting have evolved considerably.
The 62-year-old admitted he never took parental leave while raising his own children and left childcare almost entirely to his wife.
“When I came home, I was tired. Even if the baby cried during the night, I left it to my wife. Looking back now, I genuinely feel that’s something I should reflect on,” he said.
He contrasted his experience with that of his son-in-law, who has taken six months off work to help care for his second child.
“Seeing that makes me happy. Times have really changed and it’s great to see them working together like that,” he added.
For Kawata, the controversy reflects a broader expectation that politicians should sacrifice their personal lives for public office.
She hoped her decision will help normalise the idea that women can successfully combine leadership with motherhood.
“I think we really need to create a society where it’s so common for women to do both—and not have to choose between working and having a family,” she said.
