The Nagoya Municipal Assembly has created a private day care room for one of its members with a 1-year-old son, the first such facility among governments in the Tokai region and a rarity in other parts of Japan as well.

"It has become easier for me to do my job and also breast-feed my child even when I have to bring him to the office," said Misaki Hibi, 32, a member of the Democratic Party.

Hibi was elected to her first term in a by-election to take the seat of her husband, Kentaro, who died in November at age 35.