The article, published on May 26 in Australia's ABC News, covers Shoko Kawata, the mayor of Yawata City, who plans to take maternity leave while in office. The piece includes expert commentary by Senior Fellow Miho Konishi on the challenges surrounding parental and maternity leave policies for public officeholders and government officials in Japan, as well as the kinds of support that would be desirable going forward.

“Shoko Kawata to become first mayor in Japan to take maternity leave while in office” the ABC News
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-26/shoko-kawata-first-mayor-in-japan-to-take-maternity-leave/106722306

Profile of Senior Fellow Miho Konishi
https://www.tokyofoundation.org/experts/detail.php?id=830