Swedish Ambassador to Japan Pereric Hoegberg encourages more Japanese fathers to take advantage of the country's "very good" paid-leave system and devote themselves to child care, an experience he believes would lead them to becoming better workers back at the office.
The 52-year-old ambassador, who has taken such leave himself for his own children, currently ages 16 and 18, suggests being an independent caregiver and keeping some distance from the mother, based on mutual trust and close communication, could be key to a fulfilling child care.
"I think it's important for equality (in a relationship) that it is not one person telling the other what to do, but equality is also about communication, responsibility," Hoegberg says.