With Japan's demographic challenges causing a workforce crunch that is proving difficult for companies to overcome, many are now offering flexible conditions to allow new mothers to return to full-time careers while maintaining their work-family balance.
More women, afraid their careers will stagnate while they are on maternity leave, are welcoming a new climate that is making it easier for couples to share the load.
"It's actually easier to work full time than I expected," said Maiko Saito, 37, who returned from maternity leave in April 2017 to work full-time at Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co.