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Japanese environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Wednesday announced he would take paternity leave, as he aims to become a role model for the country’s working fathers. 

Koizumi, son of charismatic former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi and seen as a future leader himself, said he would take about two weeks of leave over three months following the birth of his first child this month, Reuters reported. 

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been trying to encourage more men to take paternity leave, and for businesses to allow a better work-life balance, as part of his “Womenomics” program of bolstering women’s employment.

But change has been slow. Some other lawmakers initially criticized Koizumi’s interest in taking parental leave, saying he should prioritize his duty to the public.

Koizumi said he decided to set an example for other men, but had struggled as he weighed his responsibilities as a minister against those of a father.

“Data shows that 80 percent of men, upon joining the work force, say they’d like to take paternity leave, but only 6 percent of them actually go through with it,” he said in a speech, which was also posted on his website.

“I now understand the reason for this gap... So many other men are facing this same conflict, of wanting to take leave but being unable to do so.”