Society

Japan's paternity leave acquisition rate stays low

Aug 03 (NHK) - Data compiled by Japan's welfare ministry shows the proportion of male workers who took paternity leave in 2019 edged up from the previous year but still remained low.

The statistics shows the ratio of men taking childcare leave to the entire male workforce eligible for the benefit stood at 7.48 percent last October. That is up 1.32 percentage points from a year earlier, and is the highest on record.

But the figure is far lower than the 83 percent for women who took maternity leave. It is also lower than the government's goals for paternity leave acquisition rates-- 13 percent by this year, and 30 percent by 2025.

Welfare ministry officials say some companies are purported to have an atmosphere that compels male staff to feel reluctant to take child-rearing leave.

The officials add they will search for ways to allow men acquire paternity leave immediately after their babies are born, so that more of them will be able to acquire it when they want to.

Ishiba Shigeru elected LDP leader

Ishiba Shigeru has been elected leader of Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The former LDP Secretary-General is now virtually assured of becoming the next prime minister. (NHK)

Hakamada Case Ends With Acquittal After 58 Years

The Hakamada case, a decades-long legal struggle, ended with an acquittal for Iwao Hakamada (88), who, along with his sister Hideko, fought for 58 years. Hakamada was suspected of the 1966 murder of a miso company executive’s family.

Japan launches information-gathering satellite on H2A rocket

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New Red Lights for Japan's Police Cars

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Over 300 New Geoglyphs Discovered by Yamagata University in Nazca

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