"Isn't This a Waste of Taxpayers' Money?" Japan's Youngest Female Mayor Faces Criticism Over Maternity Leave

Not Statutory Leave but Acting Official Arrangement
Calls Grow for Reform of Elected Office Systems

Shoko Kawata, the mayor of Yawata City in Kyoto Prefecture who was born in 1990 and drew attention as the youngest female mayor in Japan, is facing controversy after announcing that she will step down from her official duties during her prenatal and postnatal period in anticipation of childbirth. Japanese labor standards law guarantees female workers six weeks of maternity leave before childbirth and eight weeks after. However, elected local government officials such as mayors are not classified as ordinary workers, making it difficult to apply the same rules directly. This has sparked considerable debate regarding her maternity leave.

Shoko Kawata, the youngest and female mayor of Yawata City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Yawata City

On June 18, Mayor Kawata expressed her views on maternity leave in an interview with The Guardian. She said, "I didn't expect it to become such a controversy," adding, "It seems people still think you have to sacrifice your personal life to be devoted to your career." Earlier, Yawata City announced that, based on Mayor Kawata's expected date of childbirth, Shigeto Nose, the deputy mayor, would be appointed as acting mayor from July 20 to November 8.

The period—eight weeks before and eight weeks after the birth—was determined with reference to the leave standards applied to city employees and the city council’s regulations. During this time, the deputy mayor, as acting mayor, will typically handle administrative work, responses to the city council, participation in events, and disaster response. However, the city explained that, if necessary, essential information would be shared with Mayor Kawata via online meetings and an emergency communication system.

No Regulations for Maternity Leave for Elected Officials in Japan: Growing Demands for Policy Reform and Changing Perceptions

The reason Mayor Kawata's maternity leave is attracting so much attention is not simply because of a politician giving birth. Observers point out that it demonstrates how current systems have been designed on the assumption that politicians will not give birth. Yawata City explained that for full-time special positions such as mayors, the concepts of working hours and leave under the Labor Standards Act or the Local Public Service Act do not directly apply. As a result, Mayor Kawata's maternity leave is less a statutory leave and more a measure arranged using the acting mayor system provided under the Local Autonomy Act.

In Japan, childbirth and childcare-related policies are rapidly being established. In addition to prenatal and postnatal leave, there is a childcare leave system that can, in principle, be used until the child turns one year old. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by TASS Yonhap News

Foreign media have also covered the issue prominently. CNN reported that Mayor Kawata is believed to be the first incumbent local government chief in Japan to take maternity leave. The Guardian noted that her decision has sparked public opinion surveys and a nationwide debate in Japan. In fact, regarding Mayor Kawata's maternity leave, some Japanese netizens criticized it as "a waste of taxpayers' money due to a public official's prolonged absence." On the other hand, among local residents and city hall staff, there were voices of support calling for systems to be improved so that childbirth and childcare can be compatible with public service.

In Japanese politics, childbirth and childcare are still regarded as exceptional. For example, when Eri Igarashi, a member of the House of Representatives from the Constitutional Democratic Party, used about one month of maternity leave after giving birth last year, some even called for her resignation. This was reported as the first time the newly revised pre- and postnatal leave regulations for the House of Representatives were applied.

Changing Perceptions of Childbirth in Japan Lag Behind Institutional Reforms

In Japan, childbirth and childcare-related systems are rapidly being established. In addition to prenatal and postnatal leave, there is a childcare leave system that, in principle, can be used until the child turns one year old. If a childcare facility cannot be secured, the leave can be extended up to the child's second birthday. For men, there is a so-called "postnatal papa childcare leave" of up to four weeks within eight weeks of the child's birth.

However, critics point out that the actual workplace and political climate remain rigid and have not kept up with the pace of system changes. As of 2024, the childcare leave utilization rate in Japan stands at 86.6% for women and 40.5% for men, with men's usage rate rising rapidly, but a significant gender gap persists. Employer obligations to prevent disadvantages and harassment based on pregnancy, childbirth, or the use of childcare leave have also been mandated. Nevertheless, the perception that childbirth and childcare are burdens on promotion, career continuity, or political activities remains prevalent.

In particular, female politicians are not protected when it comes to maternity leave. In fact, the number of female politicians is itself low; women account for about 30% of local assembly members in Japan, and the proportion of female lawmakers under the age of 40 is reported to be only around 1%. In the World Economic Forum's 2025 gender gap index, Japan ranked 118th out of 148 countries, the lowest among the G7 nations. Mayor Kawata has stated that she hopes this controversy will help change the social climate that forces women to choose between having children and maintaining their careers. She has emphasized that while male politicians do not experience physical absence due to childbirth, women require time to recover and care for their children.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.