Japan’s Struggle With Maternity Harassment Mirrors a Growing Crisis for American Mothers

By Laëtitia Vitaud · Fast Company · 2026-07-21

According to Fast Company, the first Japanese mayor to maintain her position while taking maternity leave has sparked a national debate over workplace expectations for women. This controversy highlights the term matahara, or maternity harassment, while newly released data shows A

According to Fast Company, the first Japanese mayor to maintain her position while taking maternity leave has sparked a national debate over workplace expectations for women. This controversy highlights the term matahara, or maternity harassment, while newly released data shows A