Shoko Kawata, Japan's first mayor to go on maternity leave, was included in the list of 100 most influential people in the world in 2026 by Time magazine.

Shoko Kawata, Japan's first mayor to go on maternity leave, was included in the list of 100 most influential people in the world in 2026 by Time magazine.

This choice was made just weeks after this 36-year-old woman went on maternity leave on September 15/24 to give birth to her first child.

Earlier this year there was a public debate in Japan about whether elected officials should take maternity leave.

Her decision to take maternity leave drew mixed reactions from criticism to support across Japan. Japan is a country facing challenges to increase the birth rate.

In an interview with the BBC before giving birth, Mrs Kawata shrugged off these criticisms and proudly announced that she was enjoying her work and believed now was the right time to have children and start a family. He added: "If we are going to criticize politicians who go on maternity leave, we have actually prevented all women between the ages of 20 and 40 from holding public positions."

📸BBC