Here’s an update on the “baby-in-city-council” issue. This article doesn’t mention it but I saw a TV news segment in which Mr. Yoshitomo Sawada, chairman of the Kumamoto municipal assembly, spoke about this willingness to discuss the issues Ms. Ogata has raised. Also, in response to Ms. Ogata’s request, she is being allowed to leave the council hall temporarily during meetings to breast feed her child. So, despite the controversy, there are indications that Ms. Ogata’s actions are succeeding in moving the discussion in a positive direction.
If you read Japanese, please have a look at the following Change.org article about a meeting with supporters that was held yesterday:
https://www.change.org/p/子育てと仕事の両立を個人の問題にしないで-赤ちゃんと議会に出席しようとした緒方夕佳熊本市議を支持します/u/22129906
Please note, too, that over 10,000 people have signed a petition of support for Ms. Ogata and there is a link to that petition on the Change.org page.
For her part, Ms. Ogata spoke apologetically about the fact that the beginning of the meeting was delayed as a result of her action (and also, of course, by the manner in which Mr. Sawada and others reacted – though Ms. Ogata didn’t put it that way).
– Kirk
