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 helping people understand the term "matahara." This word describes unfair treatment of pregnant employees, sometimes forcing them to leave their jobs. Sayaka Osakabe helped make it clear that "matahara" is against the law in Japan.

In 2015, she won the International Women of Courage Award from the US State Department. This award honors women who show great bravery and leadership in working for social justice. In April 2023, Osakabe was elected to the City Assembly of Yokohama. She now represents the Aoba Ward in the city government.

Who is Sayaka Osakabe?

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 her job instead of letting her work fewer hours. She faced difficulties and eventually left her job.

She decided to fight for her rights. In June 2014, she won her case in a labor court. After this victory, she started a support group called Matahara Net.

Fighting for Fair Workplaces

Sayaka Osakabe created the name "Matahara Net" by combining parts of the English words "maternity" and "harassment." This new word, "matahara," has now become a legal term in Japan. It helps people talk about and fight against unfair treatment of pregnant workers.

What is "Matahara"?

"Matahara" means "maternity harassment." It's when a pregnant employee is treated badly at work. This can include being pressured to quit, demoted, or denied fair working conditions. It's a big problem that Sayaka Osakabe has worked hard to fix.

In 2019, the World Economic Forum looked at how equal workplaces were around the world. Japan was ranked 121st for workplace equality. Official numbers showed that one out of every four working women in Japan had experienced maternity harassment.

Japanese law gives women the right to ask for easier jobs during pregnancy. It also allows 14 weeks of maternity leave for new parents. However, many women didn't use these rights because they worried about losing their jobs. By 2023, Japan's ranking for gender equality had fallen even further, to 125th out of 146 nations.

A Big Win in Court

On September 18, 2014, members of Matahara Net went to the Supreme Court. They supported another woman who was in a similar situation. Her hospital employer had moved her to a lower position when she was pregnant. A lower court had said this was okay.

However, Japan's Equal Employment Opportunity Law clearly says that demoting someone because they are pregnant is against the law. On October 23, 2014, the Supreme Court of Japan made a very important decision. It said that demoting or punishing someone because of pregnancy is illegal.

Thanks to Sayaka Osakabe's hard work, maternity harassment has been against the law in Japan since 2017. This means employers can be punished for it.

From Activist to Politician

Sayaka Osakabe knew that winning her award in 2015 brought attention to "matahara." But she also knew there was more work 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 activism alone had limits. She decided to get involved in local politics. During this time, she and her husband had two children. With the support of the Liberal Democratic Party, she ran for the Yokohama City Assembly.

Making a Difference in Government

In April 2023, Sayaka Osakabe was elected to represent the Aoba Ward in the City of Yokohama. She made history as the first mother of a pre-school-age child to become an elected official in that assembly.

Sayaka Osakabe doesn't just wait for things to change. She keeps pushing for improvements for women and parents within the Japanese political system. In April 2024, she led the Liberal Democratic Party's first survey. This survey asked recently elected local politicians who were raising young children about their experiences.

She then shared the survey results directly with important party leaders, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. She also asked for new policies to help local politicians do their jobs while still having time to raise their children.

See also

In Spanish: Sayaka Osakabe para niños