At the median Japanese listed company, 82.4% of eligible fathers took childcare leave, across the 2,399 companies that report it in their annual securities reports (filed 2025-10 to 2026-09). Among unlisted employers reporting to MHLW the median is 68.0% (5,245 employers), and 57.1% at Japan subsidiaries of foreign groups. The national rate across all employers is 50.9% (MHLW, fiscal 2025). By industry it runs from 100.0% in Banks to 67.0% in Warehousing.
By industry: the median and the leader (31 TSE industries)
Industries where five or more companies report the figure. The leader is the highest own-company figure among companies with 300+ employees at the parent; figures a holding company reports for a subsidiary are left out.
By company size (parent-company employees)
| Employees | Median | Companies |
|---|---|---|
| Under 300 | 100.0% | 722 |
| 300–999 | 77.3% | 970 |
| 1,000–4,999 | 83.3% | 596 |
| 5,000+ | 90.1% | 111 |
Top 10 (Listed companies with 1,000+ employees at the parent company that report on the strict basis: childcare leave only (Childcare and Family Care Leave Act ordinance, art. 71-4 item 1). Companies reporting the broader basis, which adds other leave taken for childcare and gives far higher figures, are left out. Rates above 100% (leave taken this year for a child born the year before) count as 100% and share a rank; within a shared rank, larger companies are listed first. Uptake is not duration: a rate says how many fathers took leave, not for how long)
| 1 | Sekisui House, Ltd. Construction | 111.0% |
| 2 | Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. Other products | 106.8% |
| 3 | The Kansai Electric Power Company, Incorporated Electric power & gas | 109.0% |
| 4 | Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd. Land transportation | 104.0% |
| 5 | Toda Corporation Construction | 100.0% |
| 6 | Kanadevia Corporation Machinery | 100.0% |
| 7 | Tosoh Corporation Chemicals | 100.0% |
| 8 | Bourbon Corporation Foods | 100.0% |
| 9 | CALBEE, Inc. Foods | 102.5% |
| 10 | ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd. Transportation equipment | 215.7% |
Every listed company and unlisted employer, quartiles by industry and size band, each company's percentile within its industry and up to three years of history, as Excel, CSV and a members' dashboard.
Free 30-company sampleSee the plansWhat the figure means
Employers with more than 1,000 employees have had to publish the share of men taking childcare leave since April 2023, and those with more than 300 since April 2025. Companies may count childcare leave only, or childcare leave plus other leave taken for childcare; the second basis gives higher figures, so check the basis before comparing. Rates can exceed 100% because leave taken this year can be for a child born last year. The national rate across all employers was 50.9% in fiscal 2025 (MHLW Basic Survey on Equal Employment Management).
Questions
- What share of fathers take childcare leave in Japan?
- 82.4% at the median listed company (2,399 companies), and 68.0% at the median unlisted employer (5,245). The national rate across all employers is 50.9%.
- Which industry is highest?
- Banks, with a median of 100.0%. The lowest is Warehousing at 67.0%.
- Which company is highest?
- Sekisui House, Ltd. at 111.0% (Listed companies with 1,000+ employees at the parent company that report on the strict basis: childcare leave only (Childcare and Family Care Leave Act ordinance, art. 71-4 item 1). Companies reporting the broader basis, which adds other leave taken for childcare and gives far higher figures, are left out. Rates above 100% (leave taken this year for a child born the year before) count as 100% and share a rank; within a shared rank, larger companies are listed first. Uptake is not duration: a rate says how many fathers took leave, not for how long).
- Is disclosure mandatory?
- Employers with more than 1,000 employees have had to publish the share of men taking childcare leave since April 2023, and those with more than 300 since April 2025. Companies may count childcare leave only, or childcare leave plus other leave taken for childcare; the second basis gives higher figures, so check the basis before comparing. Rates can exceed 100% because leave taken this year can be for a child born last year. The national rate across all employers was 50.9% in fiscal 2025 (MHLW Basic Survey on Equal Employment Management).
- How do I compare my company with its industry?
- Every company page shows its industry median. Quartiles by industry and size band, each company's percentile within its industry, and the full table as Excel and CSV are in the paid plans.
Sources: each company's annual securities report (EDINET, filed 2025-10 to 2026-09), MHLW's women's-advancement database. Compiled by The Hardest Market; definitions and exclusions in the methodology.
Related: Women in management · Gender pay gap · Average salary · Japan HR statistics · All rankings · Glossary · Labour Law Tracker