Who Is Shoko Kawata and Why Her Maternity Leave as First Incumbent Japanese Mayor Sparked Controversy?
When 35-year-old Shoko Kawata announced that she would take maternity leave while serving as mayor of Yawata City in western Japan, the decision quickly became national news. In many countries, a mayor taking leave to give birth would be viewed as a normal workplace arrangement. In Japan, however, the announcement sparked intense public discussion, media … Read more