Tamayo Marukawa, 42, seems to have it all. A University of Tokyo graduate, she scored one of the most coveted jobs in Japan as an announcer at TV Asahi. A popular presence there for 14 years, she left for a seat in the Upper House six years ago as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.
Behind the career success, however, something is missing: a healthy work-life balance. As a parliamentary secretary at the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, which ironically promotes a stable work-life balance, she barely has time to spend with her 1-year-old son, Harumasa.
"There is no environment in Japanese politics where politicians can have a work-life balance," said Marukawa, who occasionally has to attend question-and-answer sessions at the Diet from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.