Sayaka Shibata, 31, a graduate student in a medical research lab at the University of Tokyo, might not have returned to the lab after maternity leave if the university did not open an on-campus nursery.
Launched in April 2008 on the Hongo main campus, the nursery for children of teachers and graduate students stays open until 9 p.m. in consideration of scientific researchers who are often engaged in time-consuming experiments.
It is a child-raising support measure being adopted by an increasing number of universities across Japan to prevent female researchers from forgoing their careers after having children.