Here’s an update on the “baby-in-city-council” issue.
In response to the attention Ms. Ogata’s case has focused on the lack of daycare facilities within the Kumamoto City Hall building, Kumamoto City is reported to be planning the establishment of a daycare on the 3rd floor of the Shiyakusho (city hall) building. The Mainichi Shimbun article reports that one factor in the city’s decision was over 500 letters / messages that individuals sent to the city after the media began to cover Ms. Ogata’s case. Many of those messages called for the establishment of daycare facilities within the city hall building. Moreover, in response to a survey of more than 6000 city employees that was conducted between September and October (that is, before the media frenzy over Ms. Ogata’s case), 86% replied that such a facility was needed in the building.
This is actually rather old news. The Mainichi article I’m quoting came out on the 16th of December and, since then, many other media outlets have covered this development and its implications for government facilities throughout Japan. Still, I came up empty handed when I searched for news articles in English on the topic via Google. I found the following articles (December 25th and 23rd respectively) but neither mentioned the concrete progress that has resulted from Ms. Ogata’s actions:
“Baby in assembly” raises controversy in Japan https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2017/12/dcb4bb523a75-focus-baby-in-assembly-raises-controversy-in-japan.html
Men still making houses as women try to leave home https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/12/23/national/media-national/men-still-making-houses-women-try-leave-home/#.WkXCHyOB3_Q
Come on, English media (Kyodo, Japan Times, etc) – get your act together. You guys are supposed to be professionals. ;)
– Kirk
