A Japanese mayor has sparked controversy after taking maternity leave, in a move that sparked a nationwide debate.

Shoko Kawata, the mayor of Yawata in the west of Japan, revealed in May that she would be taking eight weeks off before and after giving birth to her baby.

She said she has no plans to take childcare leave, intending to work remotely to balance her job with raising her child.

Addressing the city assembly earlier this week, Kawata highlighted the immense struggle women face in balancing the physical demands of motherhood with career advancement. 

She said that despite rising numbers of female managers, combining work with childbirth and childcare remains a significant challenge. 

To address this, she aims to prove that a local government can run seamlessly during a leader's temporary absence, provided there is strong communication with city officials. 

Her decision sparked public debate, as Japan does not usually grant maternity leave to city mayors.

Speaking to the Guardian, Kawata expressed surprise at the controversy surrounding her move. 

'I get the impression that many people online are just coming to terms with it,' she said. 

'There's still an idea that in work, people should sacrifice their personal lives in order to devote themselves to their career,' she said. 

'For men, childbirth doesn't physically affect their bodies, so technically it's possible to continue working while pushing private life into the background,' she added. 

'But for women, physically, that simply isn't possible.'  

The 35-year-old is the first mayor to take maternity leave in Japan, a country struggling with a depopulation crisis.

Kawata said that although gender equality has improved in Japan, women still struggle to reach positions of leadership.

Japan ranked 118th out of 148 countries in the latest Gender Gap Report. Driven partly by outdated gender stereotypes, it scored the lowest among G7 nations.

Only 30 per cent of councillors in Japan are women, while only 1.2 per cent are under the age of 40. Kawata became Japan's youngest female mayor at only 33.

She was born after Japan's economic bubble burst and was always interested in politics, and grew up hearing her parents refer to the 'good old days' before the depopulation crisis.

The official majored in economics at Kyoto University, working as a case worker and political aide before running for office.

She campaigned with the goal to improve childcare, and has focused on combating depopulation in the country.

'I was always aware of Japan's shrinking population,' Kawata said, 'but when I took office, I really started to comprehend the seriousness of the situation.'

Kawata plans to return to work in December, and hopes her decision to take leave will inspire other women to seek a job in politics.

She said: 'If more women are involved in leadership and decision-making, we will be able to implement more social systems to support balancing a career with family life.' 

Deputy Mayor Nose Shigeto will serve as acting mayor during her leave, and Kawata will communicate with city officials by phone and email when needed to help ensure things are going smoothly.