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🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

Japan mayor's maternity leave sparks fury and debate

From The Straits Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Shoko Kawata, the first mayor in Japan to take maternity leave, faces backlash from some residents, particularly men, who accuse her of irresponsibility.
  • Kawata's decision has ignited a national discussion on the persistent discrimination faced by working women in Japan, including maternity harassment (matahara).
  • Despite being a trailblazer, Kawata, who is six months pregnant, will arrange for a deputy to handle daily affairs while she remains involved in major decisions.

In Yawata, a Japanese city of 68,000 known for its traditional tea culture, Mayor Shoko Kawata's announcement of her pregnancy and intention to take maternity leave has sparked both celebration and controversy. While many residents offered gifts and support to the 35-year-old, some men expressed anger, deeming her decision irresponsible and a prioritization of personal life over constituents.

I somehow realised for the first time just how much discrimination still exists.

— Shoko KawataThe mayor of Yawata reflects on the backlash to her decision to take maternity leave.

Kawata, who is six months pregnant and due in mid-September, sees the backlash as a stark illustration of the discrimination women still face in Japan. "I somehow realised for the first time just how much discrimination still exists," she stated in an interview at City Hall, surrounded by portraits of her male predecessors. This sentiment highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equality in the workplace and public service.

The mayor's decision has amplified a national debate on the challenges working women encounter, from factory floors to government offices. The phenomenon of "matahara," or maternity harassment, pressures women to avoid extended leave for fear of career repercussions. Despite progress, such as the election of Japan's first female prime minister, women remain underrepresented in government, with less than 4 percent of municipal leaders being women as of 2025.

We should do more to support child-raising as a society. Taking leave should not be news.

— Kyoko MorisawaThe mayor of Shinagawa City comments on the importance of supporting mothers in public life.

Kawata, who became Yawata's first female and youngest mayor in 2023, is no stranger to challenging norms. She plans to take approximately two months before and two months after her due date, with a deputy managing daily operations while she stays involved in key decisions. "Systems can be changed, but people cannot," she told reporters. "I cannot become a man." Her actions are being hailed by some as a crucial step toward normalizing maternity leave for women in public life.

Systems can be changed, but people cannot. I cannot become a man.

— Shoko KawataThe mayor of Yawata explains her decision to take maternity leave despite societal pressures.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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