Japan's first mayor to take maternity leave lands on TIME100 Next list
Shoko Kawata's maternity leave drew mixed reactions in Japan, a country struggling to lift birth rates.
Japan's first mayor to take maternity leave makes TIME100 Next list
Shoko Kawata, the first mayor in Japan to take maternity leave, has been selected by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 most influential rising stars.
The honor was announced weeks after the 36-year-old welcomed her first child on 15 September.
Earlier this year, Kawata, who serves as mayor of Yawata City in Kyoto prefecture, became the center of a nationwide discussion over whether elected officials should be allowed time off for childbirth.
Her choice to take maternity leave sparked both praise and criticism across Japan, a country struggling to raise birth rates.
On social media, some people said having a baby is difficult and that Kawata is doing her best. One commenter said Japanese society has failed to build systems with pregnancy in mind. Another said Kawata is setting a wonderful example by putting her family first and making it easier for other women to enter politics.
Critics, however, said stepping away from public duties was "irresponsible", and argued that if Kawata wanted to get pregnant "she should have done so before taking office". One said top officials who want to take extended leave "should resign".
Others said salaries should be reduced during maternity leave.
In a sit-down interview with the BBC before giving birth, Kawata dismissed the criticism, saying proudly that she loves her job and believes now is the right time for her to have a child and start a family.
"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.
Although Japan offers maternity leave for city workers, there is currently no legal framework for local elected officials. Kawata therefore worked with her office to put a plan in place. She handed over her authority to deputy mayor Shigeto Nose for 16 weeks, while continuing to work remotely when possible.
On 15 September, Mayor Kawata announced that she had given birth to a baby girl.
She thanked those who had supported her and reaffirmed her aim to advocate for social issues nationwide.
"As I face the countless challenges that lie ahead and learn what it truly means to be a parent, I want to reflect those experiences in real time into the policies I pursue," she wrote.
"I want to confront the many challenges facing parents and children today from that same perspective, as someone living through them myself, and think about how we can find a way forward together."