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 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The three-minute spot, which started running last week, shows the hapless lawmakers being outfitted with seven kilogramme (16 pound) vests that mimic the belly of a woman who is about seven months pregnant.
Then it is time to clumsily navigate stairs, carry groceries, or wait for someone to give up their seat on the bus.
![This video grab taken from footage released by Kyushu-Yamaguchi Work Life Balance Promotion Campaign on Oct 3, 2016 shows the governor of Saga prefecture, Yoshinori Yamaguchi, walking up stairs with a pregnancy vest. - AFP](http://img.astroawani.com/2016-10/51475493739_freesize.jpg)
![This video grab taken from footage released by Kyushu-Yamaguchi Work Life Balance Promotion Campaign on Oct 3, 2016 shows the governor of Miyazaki prefecture, Shunji Kono, walking down the stairs with a pregnancy vest. - AFP](http://img.astroawani.com/2016-10/51475493752_freesize.jpg)
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-year-old Shunji Kono, the governor of Miyazaki 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 top priority to fix the economy, heeding calls to make better use of a highly educated but underemployed labour pool.