Progress is being made in creating an environment in which female members of local assemblies in Japan can balance political activities with childbirth and child-rearing, such as by clearly stipulating the period during which they can take maternity leave.
Meanwhile, as of July 2024, there were 5,187 female municipal assembly members in the country, or only 17.9% of the total, suggesting that further efforts need to be made to promote female political participation.
Hiroko Nagano, 52, a former member of the assembly of Tokyo's Toshima Ward, gave birth to a child while in office in 2008.
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