ChitChat #4

ChitChat #4

Celebrating Mothers

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is Japan's least populated prefecture?

• Okayama

• Hyogo

• Tottori

• Shimane

Which of the following is Japan's least populated prefecture?

Answer: Tottori

Has about 585,000 habitants (as of 2020)

Multiple Choice

In Japan, what % of mothers are working?

• 26%

• 54%

• 72%

• 93%

In Japan, what % of mothers are working?

Ans: 72%

38% are in irregular employment.

Multiple Choice

Which country has the most family-friendly policies among OECD/EU countries, according to UNICEF?

• Sweden

• Estonia

• Japan

• Iceland

Which country has the most family-friendly policies among OECD/EU countries, according to UNICEF?

Answer: Sweden

The ranking is based on the length of paid leave available to mothers & fathers (full-rate pay equivalent), and the percentage of children enrolled in childcare. Sweden ranks 1st, Norway 2nd, and Iceland 3rd.

Estonia has the longest paid leave available to mothers at 85 weeks, Japan has the longest leave for fathers at 30.4 weeks, and Iceland has the highest % of children in childcare (65% under age 3 and 99% between age 3 and school-age)

Multiple Choice

In Japan, what is the ratio of mothers returning to work after the birth of the first child? (2010-2014)

• 31%

• 40%

• 53%

• 65%

In Japan, what is the ratio of mothers returning to work after the birth of the first child? (2010-2014)

Answer: 53%

It increased from 40% in 2005-2009 to 53% in 2010-2014.

Multiple Choice

In Japanese married couples with children (under age 12), how much time do mothers in full-time work spend on childcare on a weekday on average?

• 2 hours 40 minutes

• 3 hours 20 minutes

• 4 hours 20 minutes

• 5 hours 30 minutes

In Japanese married couples with children (under age 12), how much time do mothers in full-time work spend on childcare on a weekday on average?

Answer: 4 hours 20 minutes

With full-time work (typically around 8 hours or more), mothers in full-time work are working more than 12 hours a day.

Multiple Choice

In Japanese married couples, what % of housework is done by the female?

• 56%

• 71%

• 83%

• 92%

In Japanese married couples, what % of housework is done by the female?

Answer: 83%

Multiple Choice

What % of married women (age 25-44) use household help services in Japan?

• 2%

• 12%

• 22%

• 42%

What % of married women (age 25-44) use household help services in Japan?

Answer: 2%

6% of women have used household help services. As a reason for stopping to use such services, 36% mentioned the cost.

Multiple Choice

How many children are on the waitlist for daycare in Japan? (2018)

• 10,000

• 20,000

• 25,000

• 30,000

How many children are on the waitlist for daycare in Japan? (2018)

Answer: 20,000

While the daycare capacity has been expanding and the number of children on the waitlist is the lowest in 11 years, there are still around 20,000 children on the waitlist.

Multiple Choice

What % of women have depression 1 year after childbirth in Japan?

• 3%

• 14%

• 19%

• 25%

What % of women have depression 1 year after childbirth in Japan?

Answer: 14%

A study in October 2020 revealed that due to COVID, mothers who may have depression have increased to 24%, and 2/3 were not aware that they were in a depressive state.

Multiple Choice

In Japan, what % of single-parent households are living in relative poverty*?

*receiving less than 50% average household incomes

• 11%

• 27%

• 35%

• 48%

In Japan, what % of single-parent households are living in relative poverty*?

*receiving less than 50% average household incomes

Answer: 48%

Around 85% of single-parent households are single-mother households.

Multiple Choice

In Japanese married couples with children (under age 12), how much time do mothers spend on childcare on a weekday on average?

• 9 hours 30 minutes

• 8 hours 50 minutes

• 7 hours 50 minutes

• 5 hours 10 minutes

In Japanese married couples with children (under age 12), how much time do mothers spend on childcare on a weekday on average?

Answer: 8 hours 50 minutes

Fathers spend 1 hour 30 minutes on average.