Environment minister Koizumi to take 2 weeks paternity leave

Know of a fellow who had his job advertised whilst he was on paternity leave. Found out when he came back...

I hope that Shinjiro san does take the time off, rather than just saying he's going to. As for will it inspire other guys to take time off? I hope so. but change a nations way of life is going to be an uphill struggle.

A bit weak, but it's better than nothing in Japan I guess. The flexible way of working is a bit of progress too.

Both parents can take up to a year off, with additional renewable six-month periods if a nursery place is unavailable.

So? If Koizumi is trying to make a point here, take the year off!

"I want to take a total of two weeks off flexibly, making exceptions for important public duties," he said, adding he hoped his decision would help change perceptions and encourage other fathers to follow suit.

He will not take the weeks off consecutively and said he expected to work remotely or have shortened days during the leave period -- which will be spread over three months from his child's birth.

So, he will just continue to have a lazy, half-ass work schedule like all of his coworker, insider boys in government.

When the baby is sleeping, go pick up litter at your local park or riverside, ENVIRONMENT Minister.

he would take two weeks of paternity leave, the first time a cabinet minister has publicly committed to such a move in the country.

Give a speech climate fight must be sexy while no significant progress with power companies and then take paternal leave.

Taking paternal leave alone will give set good example and deliver good message, since most of minister and top bureaucrats in Japan consist of old people that never take responsible in their home, so they just won't becoming role model for this.

Best time to take off is when someone in position of power needs to be out of the way and let things run their course and not tied to them. Hmmm...Daddy looking out for the son. This guy doesn't even have the proper credentials for this position are the people in Japan really that blind? A position should be filled by a qualified individual not a "because he was someone's son".

Two weeks off spread over three months. That’s like 4.5 days off a month. Like Premium Friday!

How about he take a Year off? As Allowed by Law! A law his LDP passed to get votes.

• At least he wasn’t described as ‘a possible future prime minister’ like he usually is.

Will this be sexy paternity leave like his environmental policies?

 want to take a total of two weeks off flexibly, making exceptions for important public duties,

This is akin to taking a few vacation days off. While I commend what he is doing, I want to see him take real time off and do it all at once. Not split two weeks up over the course of a year. I understand his job might be important. But his family is as well. Go spend that time with your family.

Big deal. Hardly representative of most working men in Japan, is he?!

Oeeeehhh, two weeks off. And this is suppose to make a point? Two weeks is NOTHING. Do they know anything about child-rearing in Kasumigaseki? Ridiculous.

A start, not much of one but a start. If he and his government really wants to make a statement he should take a minimum two weeks completely off all in one go and the government should highlight and commend it so as to strongly sell the policy and law they passed.

A bit weak, but it's better than nothing in Japan I guess. The flexible way of working is a bit of progress too.

Honestly, of all my male friends and family members in the U.S. who have had babies, I don't know anyone who took more than 2 weeks for paternity leave.

He will not take the weeks off consecutively and said he expected to work remotely or have shortened days during the leave period -- which will be spread over three months from his child's birth.

Not sure this really counts as Paternity Leave when spread out like this. Seems like a fudge to me. He'd be better off just taking normal leave!

Once his wife realizes how useless he is, she'll send him back to work.

"I want to take a total of two weeks off flexibly, making exceptions for important public duties," he said,

So, he's not really taking two weeks paternity leave at all. He's taking two weeks of flexitime. There is a huge difference. The purpose of paternity leave is to share the child raring responsibilities between the parents during the first few weeks or months of child birth. I hope his baby fits into his schedule.

he hoped his decision would help change perceptions and encourage other fathers to follow suit

Wasn't there a report just a few weeks ago from the ministry of BS 'urging' fathers to take at least a month maternity leave? Or, was that in a different Japan? This is not about paternity leave. It's a political stunt!

It's almost impossible to take extended leave from Japanese companies. My Mrs tried to get an extra three days vacation in the summer break in August, but she was denied despite having ample annual leave available. The extra three days would have meant she would be away from her desk for six days. Japanese companies do not have employees. They have slaves!

Two weeks too weak.

I once visited a Japanese company and had a meeting with 4 guys. One of them ashamedly asked if it would be all right if he kept his phone on the table, as he was waiting for a message when his wife finished giving birth to their child. Poor guy.

For those complaining that two weeks isn't enough - you're right. But you're also wrong to insinuate that big change can be made rapidly in Japanese culture. We should be encouraging of this small progress, as it will hopefully lead to more later.

Environment minister Koizumi to take 2 weeks paternity leave

(At our expense!)

Okay for some, not for others. And yes, at the tax payers expense. And what's the point of it anyways. Its already been pointed out in some comments, that fathers a bubbling idiots anyways, by who, by a uncaring idiot woman.

for comparison my Japanese wife a career midwife worked up to one day before giving birth to each of our 3 children, after 4 moths put then in preschool and returned to work. During the disasters I offered to take them all to safety in Okinawa - she said take the kids I have to stay here and take care of patients - so we all stayed.

Why all the negativity about his "sexy" remark? He was right. Yes, his balancing work/home is his decision to make, as it should be for all fathers in Japan. Lighten up, people!

JJ Jetplane, “I want to see him take real time off and do it all at once. Not split two weeks up over the course of a year.”

Welk you’re partly in luck because he’s planning to spread it over three months, not a year.

borscht, “How about he take a Year off? As Allowed by Law! A law his LDP passed to get votes.”

I think I heard the TV news say there’s no law covering paternity leave for members of the Diet/Cabinet.

Invalid CSRF

He should take more time off but I wish them and the baby well. Congrats.

OMG. Paternity leave ?

Congratulations on making a profoundly correct decision, there is no more important job you will ever have than being a Dad.

How generous of him to give himself a two-week paid holiday at the taxpayers' expense!

What a joke.. seriously, I’m currently on paternity leave since November and will be for another few months. How anyone doesn’t want to spend time with their child for as long as possible at this stage is mind boggling. Especially when the possibility is there. Both wife and me are off and spending all this time together is fantastic. We can both sleep well by doing shifts, eat well and exercise every day together. Can both take solo time, meet friends and self improvement. Recently started baby swim, traveled a lot, of to Fiji in 2 months for an extended 3 week trip etc.. watching our baby change, grow and smile every day is better than anything else.. how can anyone prioritize the necessary evil called work...

Nothing but a publicity stunt... they will have a nanny taking care of the baby.

Well, to each his own. I hope Koizumi will run a small company of 10 people and do the same thing in the first 5 years.

Koizumi is no ordinary man in the street; he is a minister charged the nation's environment and energy. Suppose an emergency occurred during his paternity leave, will he keep tending to his personal life, saying “That has nothing to do with me”?

I remember his father, former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, enjoying his leave of absence at a Tokyo hotel when a Futenma-based helicopter crashed on the campus of a nearby university, making short shrift of the disaster..