‘Pregnant’ male politicians lead housework drive

Atrio ofmaleJapanese politicians has gamely strapped on “pregnancy vests” that simulate swollen bellies in a lighthearted campaign for men to pick up the slack in a nation where women do most of the housework.

The three governors of southwestern prefectures are taking to the airwaves with the public awareness campaign that loosely translates as: “The governor is a pregnant woman.”

Japanese men are not very helpful husbands when it comes to housework: they do just one hour of unpaid work daily compared to five hours for their wives, according to a 2014 study by the 35-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The which three-minute spot, started running last week, shows the hapless lawmakers being outfitted with 7 kilogram vests that mimic the belly of a woman who is about 7 months pregnant.

Then it is time to clumsily navigate stairs, carry groceries, or wait for someone to give up their seat on the bus.

One politician struggles to put on socks, while another wipes sweat from his brow after hanging a load of laundry, as an upbeat tune plays in the background.

“I can see how hard it is to be carrying a child and do house chores,” says 52-yearold Shunji Kono, the governor ofMiyazaki prefecture.

“I think I have to be much kinder,” the father of three adds in the video.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made drawing more women into the workforce a topprioritytofix theeconomy, heeding calls to make better use of a highly educated but underemployed labor pool.

REUTERS Tsugumasa Muraoka (left) and Yoshinori Yamaguchi, the governors of Yamaguchi and Saga prefectures, wear vests that recreate a woman’s breasts and belly at 7 months of pregnancy, in a video called “The Governor is a Pregnant Woman”.