Japan's Yawata Mayor Shoko Kawata Named Time 100 Next Rising Star While on Maternity Leave
Shoko Kawata, mayor of Yawata in Kyoto Prefecture, was added to Time's 100 Next list as a rising leader while she remains on maternity leave after the birth of her daughter.
The 36-year-old mayor, who became Japan's youngest female mayor when elected in November 2023, is believed to be the first sitting mayor in the country to take maternity leave. She gave birth to a girl on Sept. 15 and continues her leave. One outlet highlighted her decision as historic and noted her policies, such as lowering school-lunch prices, as examples of making Japan more family-friendly.
Why it matters
It signals growing acceptance of parental leave for elected officials and highlights policies that support families in Japan.
In this story
Shoko KawataYawataKyoto Prefecturematernity leaveyoungest female mayorschool lunch price reductionJapan familiesrising star
