#Shoko Kawata
Related Stories (2)
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.
October 2, 2026A mayor in Japan announced her maternity leave - and got the whole country talking
In the face of criticism, Shoko Kawata, 35, says she loves her job and is proud to be taking time off to have a baby.
July 2, 2026Related Pages (2)
Japan's first mayor to take maternity leave lands on TIME100 Next list
Watch: First mayor to take maternity leave causes backlash in Japan Shoko Kawata, Japan's first mayor to take maternity leave, has been named one of the 100 most influential rising stars by TIME Maga
bbc.co.uk•October 2, 2026
A mayor in Japan announced her maternity leave - and got the whole country talking
Watch: Shoko Kawata will make history as the first Japanese mayor to take maternity leave When the mayor of a small town in western Japan announced she was taking maternity leave, she expected some r
bbc.co.uk•July 3, 2026