Japanese mothers with little option except to bring their babies or toddlers with them when they visit the gallery sections at prefectural and municipal assemblies are in many instances being turned away.
About 40 percent of prefectural and municipal assemblies prohibit such mothers from attending even though many of the issues being debated by assembly members — such as education, pediatric care, or safety concerns about nuclear power — directly concern young families.
Women's interest in politics is seen to be rising as a result of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's attempt to push controversial national security legislation through the Diet, with the package of bills recently sent to the Upper House.