Japanese mayor's maternity leave announcement sparks national debate

Yawata Mayor Shoko Kawata announced she will take maternity leave, becoming Japan's first mayor to do so and igniting a divisive public discussion.

• Kawata announced at a May news conference that she will take two months off before and two months after her mid-September due date.
• She assigned Deputy Mayor Shigeto Nose to temporarily carry out her mayoral duties, as no legal framework exists for elected officials to take maternity leave.
• The announcement drew divided reactions on social media, with some praising her example and others calling it irresponsible.
• Kawata said criticizing politicians for taking maternity leave effectively excludes women of childbearing age from public office.