Shoko Kawata: Trailblazing Mayor of Yawata City Featured in TIME100 Next
Shoko Kawata, the first mayor in Japan to take maternity leave, has been honored in the TIME100 Next list. Her decision has ignited discussions about maternity leave for elected officials in Japan, a country facing declining birth rates. Despite mixed reactions from the public, Kawata remains committed to her role and aims to incorporate her experiences as a new mother into her advocacy work.