Sayaka Osakabe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sayaka Osakabe (小酒部 さやか)
Sayaka Osakabe receives the International Women of Courage Award in 2015
Born	(1977-05-29) May 29, 1977 (age 48) Japan　Kanagawa
Nationality	Japanese
Occupation	Art director, women's activist, entrepreneur, businesswoman, and politician
Years active	2014 – present
Known for	Women's activist Founder of specified nonprofit corporation: MATAHARA NET. Founder and president of: NATURAL RIGHTS Co. Ltd. Yokohama City Assembly Member representing Aoba Ward
Political party	Liberal Democratic Party (自由民主党)
Children	2
Awards	2015 International Women of Courage Award
Honours	Guest Speaker at APEC 2023 Women and the Economy Forum (in Seattle)

Sayaka Osakabe (小酒部 さやか, Osakabe Sayaka, born May 29, 1977) is a Japanese women's rights activist and politician. She is famous for making the word "matahara" well-known. This word describes when bosses treat pregnant employees unfairly or try to make them quit their jobs. Sayaka Osakabe helped people in Japan understand that "matahara" is against the law. In 2015, she won the International Women of Courage Award from the U.S. State Department. In April 2023, she was elected to the City Assembly of Yokohama, representing the Aoba Ward.

Sayaka Osakabe's Story

Sayaka Osakabe was born in Japan in 1977. She worked as a magazine editor. When she became pregnant, her boss tried to make her quit instead of letting her work fewer hours. After she had two miscarriages, Osakabe asked for time off if she became pregnant again. Her request was denied.

Osakabe felt forced to quit her job. She then took her case to a special court for work problems called a labor tribunal. In June 2014, she won her case. After this, she started a support group called Matahara Net. The name "matahara" comes from combining the English words "maternity" and "harassment." This word is now a legal term in Japan.

Fighting for Workplace Equality

In 2019, the World Economic Forum said Japan was 121st in the world for workplace equality. This means there were many differences between how men and women were treated at work. Official numbers showed that one out of four working women had faced "maternity harassment." Japanese law said women could ask for easier jobs during pregnancy and take 14 weeks of time off after childbirth. However, many women did not use these rights because they worried about losing their jobs.

By 2023, the World Economic Forum reported that Japan had dropped to 125th place out of 146 countries in its gender equality ranking. The number of women in politics was especially low, ranking 138th.

On September 18, 2014, members of Matahara Net went to a trial at the Supreme Court. They supported another woman who was in a similar situation. Her hospital employer had moved her to a lower position during her pregnancy. A lower court had said the hospital could do this. But Japan's Equal Employment Opportunity Law clearly says that demoting someone because they are pregnant is not allowed.

In a very important decision on October 23, 2014, the Supreme Court of Japan said the lower court was wrong. The Supreme Court ruled that moving someone to a lower position or punishing them because of pregnancy goes against the Equal Employment Opportunity Law.

Thanks to Sayaka Osakabe's hard work, "maternity harassment" has been against the law in Japan since 2017.

From Activism to Politics

Sayaka Osakabe knew that winning her award in 2015 helped bring attention to "maternity harassment." But she also knew there was still more to do. She started a company called Natural Rights Co., Ltd.. This company offers workshops, learning materials, and talks about "matahara" and other social issues.

She realized that being an activist had its limits. So, she decided to get involved in local politics. During this time, she and her husband had two children. She ran for the Yokohama City Assembly with the support of the Liberal Democratic Party. In April 2023, Osakabe was elected to represent the Aoba Ward in the City of Yokohama. She was the first mother of a child who was not yet in school to become an elected official.

Sayaka Osakabe continues to push for changes in the Japanese political system for women and parents. In April 2024, she led the Liberal Democratic Party's first survey of new local politicians who are raising young children. She shared the results directly with the party's leaders, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. She also asked for new rules to help local politicians do their jobs without having to give up time with their children.

See also

In Spanish: Sayaka Osakabe para niños