Lawmaker who brought baby to assembly receives written warning




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She did it as a stunt to draw attention to an important point, the old fossils reacted as expected, nothing will change but good on her for having a go.

10 ( +14 / -4 )

How about Abe put his money where his mouth is and say what the woman did was okay, and the 40 minute delay was the fault of the men who objected, not her. Nope? Thought not. Abe's promises and vows are all lip-service save for those which further his personal projects like changing the Constitution.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

I do not like the idea of children in the assembly chambers. And I would think it unfair to the taxpayers to provide childcare for assembly members only. But every local assembly I’ve ever seen meets in a room in the local city/town/village/ward offices. These offices nearly always employ a large number of female civil servants, part-time office workers, etc., as well as younger male workers who might be raising young children (not that older ones couldn’t also, but I’m just thinking in terms of probability). Kumamoto is a large city and I would think a daycare facility on premise would benefit a large number of workers.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

This is precisely why Japan's population is crashing and its businesses will be annexed by China over the next 20 years.

Yeah, there's absolutely nothing wrong with

A) Not having enough daycare centers in any city in the nation

B) Knowing about said shortage and doing nothing about it for the last 15 years

C) Making up words like womenomics but forcing them to stay home to look after children because of no daycares

D) Belittling women and punishing them when they make a stand like this

E) All of the above. If you are a Japanese politician, circle E.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Doesn't excuse not having an daycare in the entire building. Maybe she can write a tardy back

7 ( +12 / -5 )

They gave her no answer, now they blame her?

6 ( +13 / -7 )

It is a good thing for Ogata-san to willingly take receiving a written warning for this rule infraction. Just by doing so she has helped raise awareness further, which she had already accomplished through the several news articles written about this situation. Hopefully now this one situation will be addressed. Hopefully.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

I am not really keen on government officials bringing kids/friends/family/pets into serious environments like this... BUT, for the amount of funding, connections and ability to implement laws, they must really not want women to be a part of their "ol boys club". What excuse do they have for not providing a nanny, daycare or support for women in the assembly?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

How many more years before all the old fart J politicians finally get with the program instead if just paying lip service aka Abe ?

good on her for pulling this publicity stunt to bring attention to the issue. More high profile women should do the same to get the ball slowly rolling.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Shes a hero, they, petty little men clutching at their shrinking power.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I can't say I like political stunts, but I like the level of sexism in Japan even less.

Women in Japan face sexism throughout their lives, so the focus should not just be on whether mothers with infants can find childcare. There are many other barriers holding women back.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

My sister in law asked me yesterday why Japan's population is shrinking. I referred her to this story as an example.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Okay maybe the flow of proceedings were disrupted but seriously how you can you "deem" the baby an "observer" (傍聴人)?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

"Old boys" club can't stand change.

Too bad the ppl of Kumamoto didn't protest downtown....

oh wait, that would take guts to make a change.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Warning by Kumamoto city assembly to YUKA OGATA is wholly unjustified as assembly secretariat had neither replied to her request earlier for opening a daycare centre nor took any step for providing the facility for the benefit of the small kids assembly members. PM Abe's government should open day care facilities throughout Japan for the benefit of the infants of the working mothers on urgent basis for the empowerment of women in the country.This is the biggest need of the hour in Japan at present which the government can not afford to ignore.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

"Assemblies bear responsibilities to actively present the environment in which women can manage both."

Don't just limit it to assemblies! The federal government bears a responsibility to supply this environment to every woman in the country, which Abe has been spouting and has done bugger all about! This women really wants to run with this ball and get as much attention to women's disposition in Japan as possible. Screw those old stone-faced idiots in the photo. Get into them girl!

4 ( +11 / -7 )

How many daycares can be built with the 5.7 billion yen of our money that Abe gave Ivanka.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

She could not find baby-sitter. She did not neglect her duty. So she was bottle feeding her baby.

I don't think she became pregnant to draw attention..

4 ( +9 / -5 )

@toshiko do they have be Filipino?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

That's quite a disgraceful response from the Kumamoto city assembly and really, really disappointing

3 ( +11 / -8 )

Come on Japan, please try to get something right at least ONCE in a while!!

3 ( +7 / -4 )

babysitters = unicorn

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I think this story might be mis-filed...given how atrocious this mansplaining is, and how reactionary the thinking behind their rigid adherence to the (sexist) law, this belongs under "Crime" :)

3 ( +3 / -0 )

what a moron should be fired agreed the person who wrote the letter without any explanation as why they didnt supply any childcare support for assemblywomen mothers, should be fired.

And I'm sure she can afford to pay for adequate day care. If not, then perhaps she should find a better paying job or have her husband contribute to the costs. once again the whole point of her protest has gone over the heads of many, she couldn't find daycare and is on a 6 month waiting list, she asked the assmebly to provide daycare in the assembly building but received no positive reply's. While an assemblywomans salary is very generous and she can probably afford private daycare, the majority of working mothers cant afford it so they either have to stay home to care for their children and not work. No childcare support from governments means no women going back to work, get it now its simple really!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It is surprising that some of those oyagis even allow women to be present!!

3 ( +3 / -0 )


People get special passes because they have children all the time. Ever flown with children? They let you bypass the line to check in. They let you on the plane early. If you have kids, you get family prices for entry fees. People with kids often get child bonuses.

And all of this makes perfect sense, for without kids, our species does not continue. On top of that, every one of us was once a child, and almost all of us received benefits like this when we were children.

Now that all said, I don't think that an assembly is the appropriate place for children, and I don't feel she should have brought her child there.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Even with my folks there was a trade-off 2nd income vs cost of day-care. Often a 2nd income might not offset the cost.

Add in more and more part-time jobs are becoming redundant due to automation.

Local GU, Walmart/Seiju etc use automated self check out counters.

This will get worse as self-driving cars will replace taxi,truck, delivery, etc drivers and more.

In short the available jobs for part-timers, etc are shrinking.

Ergo less income to pay for daycare, etc.

2 ( +2 / -0 )


If women like her give up their posts, brainless men will replace political, posts .

are you available?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

In Australia lawmakers are allowed to breast feed in a sitting parliament imagine if that happened in Japan the Oyajis would all have fits..

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Isn't it sexist to insist that all men work and that for women, working is optional?

My sister spent almost all of her adult life NOT working outside the home. She played golf and bridge and had hobbies....and raised two children......but the children did not take up her entire adult life.

Now, young fathers have to change the diapers, cook dinner AND work.

At least that is how it is in the US.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

42-year-old Yuka Ogata stance is for inclusive family focused policies.

Child care facilities within the assembly hall could benefit the community as a whole.  

Keiko Ota, a lawyer who initiated a group where women talk about politics, said it is still difficult for women to have both a career and children in Japan, adding, "Assemblies bear responsibilities to actively present the environment in which women can manage both."

This is self explanatory.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Written warning I know exactly what to do with that "sound of flushing" what are these old men thinking?

0 ( +6 / -6 )

I’m sure she knew what she was getting into from the beginning though. She may even have wanted the media attention.

It is an issue that needs to be addressed however. Men would have any pressing issue (such as childcare) covered for work, if it were their duty.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Abenomics is “womenomics.”........


All weasel words, the reality is the spectacle of Kumamoto city assembly bilious venery of crotchety crusties cynically inane adoption of the rulebook.  

Temerarious and asinine in the failure to embrace inclusive smart solutions, as the provision of crèche facilities.

Much more convenient just to shoot the messenger

0 ( +0 / -0 )

... having been unable to receive a positive reply, she decided...

Does this mean they answered her but she refused to accept a 'No you cannot bring a child to work with you.' reply?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sad case of lost priorities on the part of both parties...

It is not a place or the time for demanding or demonstrating for female or maternity rights... It is like sitting down for the national anthem in a military parade... then participating halfheartedly with partial attention to the matters at hand...

It is the place is for hard and serious debates and discussions which decides matters that involve and affect millions of people other than a single politician. It is not there for the convenience or for the rights and privileges of a single male or female...

Although politicians do "waste" time on sometimes meaningless subjects, but that is different from being "forced" to pay attention to some occurrence, a disruption caused by an infant that has no relation to what is taking place and supposed to take place as mandated by the laws, rules and policies.

It also has very little to do with other countries that has different priorities and laws. While comparisons may be something to give perspective, the key is in "perspective".

What is that place for..?

Now that it has happened and the the government and the public was forced to pay attention to the lack of enough child care services.., it has probably served her purpose politically and personally.

But.., all that at the public's expense...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Aren’t we all kinda debating what she did and the aftermath, when probably what she wanted to do was RAISE THE ISSUE?

I have no doubt that an intelligent educated adult (I am assuming she is given her post) knew exactly what she was doing?

That she is also an assembly member but since she is a mother and a woman, she is bringing to light an issue that the men haven’t paid attention to. If men gave birth and had kidz there would probably be an army of baby holders and entertainers on a floor of the building. She knew it was cause a stir and a ruckus and I assume she did it to champion a cause, or maybe she had no option.

Im glad she did.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Exactly, I dont think anyone should get special pass just cause they didnt use protection and got preganant, and if you wanted the baby, well prepare to make compromise to bring it up right.. that includes special planning to make sure you make time for it and for making ends meet while raising it...btw that goes both for men and women.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

oh and yea..not on my tax cash... make sure u got the funding eh

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The last thing grumpy old men want is a child watching them actively make his future bleak. Until he is old enough to pay tax and able to pay theire salaries he is of no account. Having a baby is a beautiful thing and God knows Japan needs more babies.

But they "grumpy" old men want to smoke, want sex with young girls want a feeling of entitlement and not deal with a baby there vileness is certainly on display.

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

@haloerika: Philipine and Japan have special treaty. Philippine can send its women for housekeepers. Also. it send workers to Japan with Work Visa. There are Student Work Visas, too. Philippines have no problems in learning Japanese language.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Women don't want to work as nanny in Japan. She married but a majority of young women prefer to go to Universities and get better jobs than becoming a housewife or mother. Elected male politicians stopped to . call women colleagues as baby making machines quite a while ago. Also, women are no longer called midwife but it will take more years. More women will enter in political field.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )


-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Assemblymen pays are cheap. I think she chose assemblyman to work for helping earthquake ruined city and elected. Some men are more interested in degrading women. Where is the Mayor?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )





-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Warning in written letter? There are Japanese language word processors. Beside baby care center, they need to learn how to use Japanese word processors. No wonder they needed tooo have four people to negotiate with one elder woman.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

State of it.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

stunt over get back to work lady

-2 ( +1 / -3 )


-2 ( +2 / -4 )

The city should create tern and make 50% 50% ratios of male female proportion. Don't discriminate mothers or elders. They are all citizens.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

debate. Four men went to debate with one middle aged woman.

Public's expense. Check. How cheap a council man's pay in Kumamoto City is. But she was not arguing her cheap pay. She. just wanted to feed her baby with bottle. She did not neglect her baby.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Other councilmen might be young. They might say "Obasan no Akachan? Dataset Kudasai," and they nay enjoy an older lady's baby.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

But her case may give attention to Abe and LDP. They will realize issuing work visas to Philippine women for home maids do not apply to baby cares.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Japanese women need to rise up and make their voices heard. Nobody else will do it for them! But Tammy of them are too weak or can’t be bothered.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

tbh, baby aint right been there, i do see she wants to raise an issue.. but she is the least entitled person to that.

instead of making tax payer funded daycare for politicos... make it for single moms and people that cant afford it... and she should hire a nanny, she is well off enough for that

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Japan has baby shortage. People might think it is not. too late tooo have babies after wives become older than 40.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Or maybe women might marry when they become. older and have a job that enable her to be a mother.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

But I still think she became pregnant naturally. I don't think she became pregnant with artificial insemination to create issues.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

It was a place of work the kid doesnt belong there, with the money she earns paying somebody to look after the kid wouldnt be an issue.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

what a moron should be fired

-13 ( +2 / -15 )


-14 ( +4 / -18 )

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