Day to Consider Parental Leave
OtherWhat Is the Day to Consider Parental Leave
September 19 is "the Day to Consider Parental Leave" (Ikukyu wo Kangaeru Hi) in Japan, established in 2019 by homebuilder Sekisui House, Ltd.
A Wordplay That Carries a Message About Men Taking Leave
The date comes from a play on numbers: swapping "9" and "19" reads as "iku(19)kyu(9)," a pun on the Japanese word ikukyu, meaning "childcare leave." The day was created especially to encourage men to think about taking parental leave.
- Origin: Established in 2019 by Sekisui House, born from a playful rearrangement of the calendar date
- Background: The company has published reports such as a "White Paper on Men's Childcare Leave" as part of its ongoing efforts to promote men's participation in child-rearing
- Purpose: To prompt reflection not just on whether to take leave, but on how families and work styles can change
Men's Leave-Taking Rates Remain Low
In Japan, the rate at which men take childcare leave remains far lower than that of women. Even where systems exist, many men hesitate to use them, highlighting the need for a broader shift in social attitudes.
Ways to Mark the Day
- Think about what "parental leave" and work-life balance mean for you and your family
- Look into your workplace's childcare leave policies
- Talk with your partner or family about sharing childcare and work responsibilities
- Read up on news and data about men's parental leave uptake
A Small Pun, a Big Conversation About Family
The Day to Consider Parental Leave uses a simple play on numbers as an entry point into bigger questions about childcare leave and how we work. Let September 19 be a day to start that conversation with the people closest to you.