According to Bloomberg, Japanese Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, a frontrunner to succeed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is poised to become the country’s first sitting cabinet member to take paternity leave, a move applauded by the government as a step forward.
Koizumi, aged 38, announced at a news conference on Wednesday his intention to take a total of two weeks of paternity leave over a three-month period, ensuring it won’t interfere with his ministerial responsibilities. Local media reports indicate that his son is expected to be born this month.
This decision from one of Japan’s youngest-ever cabinet members could contribute to the nation’s efforts to alleviate the burden on families by encouraging more men to utilize paternity leave, a benefit that is among the most generous in the developed world but remains underutilized by fathers in Japan. Chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga expressed hope during a news conference that Koizumi’s decision would inspire other men to do the same.
“The culture needs to change, not just the system. Otherwise, the number of government officials taking paternity leave won’t increase,” remarked Koizumi.
Koizumi’s decision has garnered significant attention in Japan, with “Minister Koizumi” and “childcare leave” trending on Twitter on Wednesday morning. Justice Minister Masako Mori, one of the few women in Abe’s cabinet, commended Koizumi’s choice and mentioned that he had consulted her about it.
As the son of a former prime minister, Koizumi has been under intense media scrutiny since announcing his marriage to a well-known TV newscaster and assuming a cabinet position last year. He has been openly critical of the stigma associated with paternity leave, viewing the reaction to his decision as indicative of Japan’s “rigidity and old-fashioned” mindset.
Although fathers in Japan are entitled to up to a year of paternity leave, taking such an extended period off to care for a child is still considered taboo. Only 6% of fathers avail themselves of paternity leave, and of those, about 60% return to work within two weeks, according to the health ministry. In contrast, over 80% of working women who give birth take maternity leave, with many returning to work after 10-18 months.
This disparity poses a challenge for Japan as it grapples with a looming demographic crisis and seeks to retain women in the workforce to offset its aging population. Currently, people aged 65 or older comprise more than 28% of the population, a figure projected to exceed 38% by 2065, while the overall population declines.
Japan lags behind other developed nations in terms of gender equality, with one of the widest gender pay gaps among advanced economies. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Japanese women earn only 73% as much as men.
“This decision demonstrates considerable courage,” wrote a Twitter user. “It will break down a societal barrier that has hindered men from taking paternity leave.”
