When Shoko Kawata, a young female mayor of Yawata in Japan’s Kyoto Prefecture, announced she would take maternity leave, she probably expected some raised eyebrows ... that followed.Meet Shoko Kawata.
Kawata admitted, “Even though gender equality has improved, women still have a hard time reaching leadership positions here.”Did Shoko Kawata get no support at all?Not quite.Many people in Yawata were thrilled.