Japan's first mayor to take maternity leave lands on TIME100 Next list

Shoko Kawata, the mayor of Yawata City in Kyoto prefecture, has been named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential rising stars on the TIME100 Next list. The recognition comes just weeks after the 36‑year‑old mayor gave birth to her first child on 15 September. Earlier this year Kawata became the focal point of a nationwide debate over whether elected officials should take time away from office for childbirth. Her decision to avail herself of maternity leave elicited both support and criticism across Japan, a country that continues to grapple with low birth rates. On social media, some users praised Kawata for doing her best while acknowledging that having a baby is challenging. One commentator noted that Japanese society has yet to design systems that accommodate pregnancy, while another hailed her as a “fantastic example” for putting family first and encouraging more women to enter politics. Critics, however, labeled her leave “irresponsible,” arguing that if she wanted to have a child she should have done so before assuming office. One commentator went further, stating that any senior official seeking extended leave ought to resign. Others called for salary reductions during maternity leave. In a BBC sit‑down interview conducted before she gave birth, Kawata dismissed the detractors, saying she loves her job and believes the present moment is right for her to start a family. She warned, “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.” Although Japan guarantees maternity leave for municipal employees, no legal framework exists for locally elected officials. Kawata worked with her office to devise a temporary arrangement: she delegated her authority to deputy mayor Shigeto Nose for 16 weeks and performed duties remotely whenever possible. On 15 September Kawata announced the birth of a baby girl, sharing a photograph on X (formerly Twitter) and thanking her supporters. She reiterated her commitment to using her personal experience to shape policy, writing, “As I look at 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 added, “I want to face 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.”