Japan's Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is taking two weeks of paternity leave after the birth of his son. Photo: Reuters
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https://scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3046498/japanese-politician-shinjiro-koizumi-becomes-dad-makes-waves East Asia
Japanese politician Shinjiro Koizumi becomes a dad, makes waves by taking paternity leave
- The environment minister and son of Japan’s former PM Junichiro Koizumi is seen as a rising star and possible future leader
- Taking paternity leave is rare in Japan, and he has been criticised by lawmakers for planning to take two weeks off
Japan's environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his wife, television anchorwoman Christel Takigawa, seen here in August, have welcomed a baby boy in Tokyo. Photo: AFP
Japan’s Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who has said he will take paternity leave in a rare move for a Japanese man, announced on Friday the birth of his first child – a boy.
Koizumi, 38, is the son of charismatic former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi and is seen as a future leader himself, according to some opinion polls.
On Wednesday he said he was planning to take two weeks of leave over three months, in an effort to become a role model for Japan’s working fathers.
But some lawmakers have criticised his interest in taking parental leave, saying he should prioritise his public duty.
The telegenic Koizumi, popularly known as Shinjiro to distinguish him from his father, grabbed headlines in the summer of 2019 with news he was marrying Christel Takigawa, 42, a French-Japanese television personality, and that they were expecting a child.
Soon after, he was named environment minister.
Talking to reporters at the prime minister’s office on Friday, Koizumi said he had come straight from the hospital and had been at his wife’s side for the birth.
“As a father I’m really happy that a healthy boy was safely born,” he said. “Both of them are doing well, that’s the most important thing. What a relief.”
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talks with Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. Photo: Reuters
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been trying to encourage more men to take paternity leave, and for businesses to allow a better work-life balance, as part of his “Womenomics” programme of bolstering women’s employment.
While Japan’s parental leave policies are among the world’s most generous, providing men and women with partially paid leave of up to a year, or longer if there is no public child care, just 6 per cent of eligible fathers take child care leave, and most of them for less than a week, according to government data.
Koizumi is expected to take a total of two weeks off during the first three months by working fewer hours, telecommuting and having subordinates shoulder some of his workload.
The regular working hours of Environment Ministry officials is seven hours and 45 minutes a day, and having two weeks off is equivalent to roughly 110 hours off, according to the ministry.
Japan's Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is seen after his appointment to the position in September 2019. Photo: Reuters
Koizumi acknowledged that he’s heard comments both for and against his decision.
“I’ll keep a priority on policy and on managing anything unexpected that comes up, while also carving out time for childcare,” he said.
“I don’t really feel like a father yet, but that should come soon. I want to be a father like my dad was,” he was quoted as saying.
Shinjiro’s father divorced his mother when she was pregnant with their third son and never remarried. He told the couple when they announced their marriage that everybody “should try matrimony once”.