Long working hours in Japan not only deprive working fathers of family time and mothers of careers; Also, Japan is one of the lowest in terms of child birth rate. Therefore, the Japanese authorities have been promoting the issue of ‘Ecumen’ for a long time. Its aim is to increase the birth rate in the country and ensure that fathers give more time to the family. To this end, the Japanese government has taken several measures to encourage paternity leave. Yet Japanese fathers are afraid to take paternity leave.

The Japanese word for ‘ekumen’ refers to the familiar scene of a father walking with his young child on his shoulders through rows of yellow autumn leaves in a park. The term is a combination of the Japanese words ikuji (child care) and ikemen (handsome man).

According to the Japanese government’s new policy, 50 percent of male workers will be given paternity leave by 2025. Currently, 14 percent of male workers in the country take paternity leave. By 2030, the government wants to give this leave to 85 percent of the workers.

But as the country’s birth rate is falling and the number of elderly people is increasing, there are doubts about whether the government’s plan will work properly.

Makoto Yahashi, a member of POSSC, a labor union that works with young workers, said the government’s policy is well-intentioned, but many Japanese men are afraid to take paternity leave. They don’t want to take time off for fear of the reaction from employers.

Under a law passed by Japan’s parliament in 2021, workers can take up to four weeks of paternity leave. But even if there is a law, many people do not take leave for fear of delaying promotion.

Yahashi said that discrimination between who takes paternity leave and who doesn’t is illegal under Japanese law.