"Post-Ikumen Paternal Childcare: A Recommendation for Childcare Starting from Early Pregnancy"

2023/07/26

"The reason men cannot participate in childcare is a 'problem of social structure.'"

—Titled "Post-Ikumen," this book is presented as a volume that unravels the social aspects of "paternal childcare leave," which is undergoing a major transformation.

As an obstetrician-gynecologist, the author interacts with pregnant women and mothers, and as an occupational physician, with working fathers. Through this, I have seen many fathers who are unable to engage well in childcare, and I believe there is a deep-rooted "social structure" behind this. Based on interviews with more than 70 parents, I have framed the question of "why men cannot do childcare well" as a social issue and carefully presented solutions.

In the first half, based on the real voices of fathers and mothers and various data, I explained how the demand for "male participation in childcare" came about and the environment in which men face childcare. I argued that there is a "triple burden" of "no knowledge, no experience, and no support," and that the current situation in Japan is such that unless a man has an exceptionally high adaptability to childcare (i.e., an "Ikumen"), he cannot engage in childcare effectively.

In the second half, as an answer to this, I have compiled recommendations as a professional (i.e., "Post-Ikumen") on what companies, society, and individual fathers should do. At the same time, as a general incorporated association, I am also conducting a project to implement the content I have written together with local governments.

Paternal childcare leave in Japan today has been enhanced through legal reforms and other measures. However, "taking childcare leave" does not automatically mean "being able to do childcare." Rather, if leave is taken only as a formality, it becomes a target of criticism as "leave in name only," and if one is tied to childcare without support, it leads to social isolation. Along with the system, support at the community and institutional levels is necessary, but this has not yet been addressed, and I hope my book will serve as a catalyst for this.

Many people have praised the book, saying things like, "It put the frustrations of childcare into words," "It is systematically organized based on history and evidence," and "It offers an important perspective that has not been addressed before." This is a book I want not only fathers but also partners, families, supervisors, corporate representatives, and government officials to read, and I would be honored if all Keio University alumni would read it as well.

"Post-Ikumen Paternal Childcare: A Recommendation for Childcare Starting from Early Pregnancy"

Shodai Hirano

Chuokoron-Shinsha

272 pages, 1,034 yen (tax included)

*Affiliations and titles are as of the time of publication.