Japan's first mayor on maternity leave named to TIME100 Next list

Shoko Kawata, mayor of a Japanese city, took maternity leave, a first for a mayor in Japan, drawing mixed reactions in a country with declining birth rates. Her recognition on TIME100 Next highlights a symbolic shift in a society where such leave for elected officials is rare. The development underscores ongoing demographic challenges and evolving social norms, though its direct policy impact remains unclear.