Shoko Kawata, the mayor of Yawata in the west of Japan , revealed in May that she would be taking eight weeks off before and after giving birth to her baby.

Shoko Kawata’s decision to take time off to have a baby – an unprecedented step for a mayor – has sparked weeks of debate inside Japan

Shoko Kawata, the mayor of Yawata in the west of Japan , revealed in May that she would be taking eight weeks off before and after giving birth to her baby.