Ms. Yuka Ogata (Ogata is her family name), one of a few female members of Kumamoto’s City Council, has received national media attention recently over her bringing her child to the council chambers. I have had the honor of meeting Ms. Ogata but have not spoken with her recently. I’ll do my best, though, to summarize the central issues based on Japanese-language news reports I am familiar with.
A key issue is that the Kumamoto City Hall (Shiyakusho), where the City Council meets, does not have a daycare facility for the children of employees. Ms. Ogata would like the council to address the problems she faces as a person who must simultaneously meet responsibilities as both a parent and a public servant as structural ones, not merely as the personal dilemma of one individual. According to Ms. Ogata, however, the leadership of the council has suggested that she discuss the problem with other individual council members (presumably, those with children who might be able to offer practical advice on how Ms. Ogata could solve the problem on her own).
Yesterday, she brought her child with her to the council chambers but this was deemed unacceptable according to council rules, which forbid the presence of any person who is not a council member. The council meeting could not resume until Ms. Ogata’s child was placed in the care of another person outside of the council hall.
An Huff Post (Japanese version) article presents these developments in an international light:
熊本市議会で赤ちゃん連れ議員の出席認められず…でも、世界にはこんなにいます http://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2017/11/22/kumamoto_a_23285061/
In the article, other English-language articles about how this kind of issue has been handled in other countries are discussed:
Mom-Mentum Hits House Of Commons With Pregnant MPs http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/12/27/pregnant-mps_n_2369046.html
MP Says Her Baby Was Kicked Out Of House http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/02/08/sana-hassainia-baby-kicked-out-house_n_1263004.html
In pictures: MEP Licia Ronzulli’s daughter Vittoria in Strasbourg parliament http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/10461357/In-pictures-MEP-Licia-Ronzullis-daughter-Vittoria-in-Strasbourg-parliament.html
There’s also a link to a Spanish language Twitter post featuring nine photos of women voting in governmental assemblies with children in their laps. https://twitter.com/mariasolcorral/status/474577247299706880/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.jp%2F2017%2F11%2F22%2Fkumamoto_a_23285061%2F
I think Ms. Ogata’s efforts are worthy of international media attention. Within Japan, it is significant, even historical as it represents the first instance of a member of such a body attempting to bring a child into council chambers. At this point, however, I have not been able to find any mentiion of Ms. Ogata’s situation in English. So, if you happen to know a journalist who might be interested in this, or another individual who might have such connections, please share this post.
Thanks!
– Kirk
http://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news_society/articles/000115139.html
