More fathers in Japan encouraged to take paternity leave

The proportion of male corporate employees in Japan who had recently become fathers and taken childcare leave reached a record high of 30% as of 1 October 2023. This increase follows new government regulations requiring organisations to confirm whether employees intend to take leave, according to a government report.

The health ministry attributed the rise in paternity leave uptake to government efforts launched in the spring of 2022 to raise awareness about the paternity leave system among organisations. This record represents a 13-percentage point increase from the previous year, based on survey responses from 3,495 organisations with five or more employees.

Paternity leave uptake rates varied by industry, with the highest rates in personal services and amusement services at 55.3%, followed by financial and insurance at 43.8%, and scientific research and professional and technical services at 42.8%. The lowest uptake was seen in real estate and goods rental services at 16.9%, the wholesale and retail trade industry at 20.1%, and the accommodations and food and beverage sector at 21.1%.

Meanwhile, the uptake rate for maternity leave remained stable at 84.1%.

READ MORE: Japan mandates flexible work options for parents

Despite these positive trends, cultural challenges persist. A middle school teacher and father of two, referred to as Yamazaki, recounted his experience taking eight months of parental leave. He faced pressure and skepticism at work but believed the decision was beneficial as it allowed him to witness his children’s growth and understand his wife’s struggles better.

Parental leave has become crucial for students when selecting an organisation. A survey of 18- to 25-year-olds found 84% of male respondents want to take paternity leave, with 63% prioritising organisations’ paternity leave policies. About 30% wished to take at least six months of leave, and 77.9% sought a good work-life balance. Awareness of the parental leave system was high, with 92.4% aware of it and 87.7% intending to take leave, reported The Japan Times.