Shoko Kawata Is on the 2026 TIME100 Next - Time Magazine

In 2023, Shoko Kawata became Japan’s youngest-ever female mayor at age 33, when she was elected to lead the city of Yawata. Earlier this year, she made history again for a seemingly unremarkable decision: taking maternity leave.

While Japan provides maternity leave to workers, elected mayors fall outside those labor protections. With no precedent to follow, she created one. Kawata transferred her authority to the deputy mayor for 16 weeks while continuing to attend briefings remotely and be involved in major decisions.

Kawata’s decision drew significant backlash, illuminating the pressures working women in Japan continue to face. But she found support from residents. Many saw the criticism as reflecting the country’s struggle to address its broader demographic crisis, as demanding workplace expectations and rising costs of living put parenthood increasingly out of reach.

Kawata’s administration has reduced the price of school lunches, added free diapers at preschools, and pushed to provide more postpartum care. In her personal choices and her policy priorities, Kawata is demonstrating how Japan can become more livable for families.