Japan's work culture at a crossroads

Earlier this week I wrote an article about a study I'd seen recently which focused on leisure pursuits gaining ground over work here. Results of that survey showed that nearly 68% of people now say they find more meaning in leisure than in their jobs, which was the highest figure since tracking began in 2009. I found it encouraging that many people here are taking more trips, dining out regularly, and generally protecting their time outside the office, and it seemed like clear evidence that the country's relationship with work is starting to change for the better.

However, another article from this month seems to contradict that optimism, at least to some extent. The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare reported a record 1,304 recognized cases of deaths and health disorders related to overwork in fiscal 2024, which is up nearly 200 from the year before. Over 1,000 of these cases involved mental health issues, and almost 90 were suicides or attempted suicides.

Depending on your industry, slowing down might feel difficult or even impossible.

The biggest factor was power harassment from superiors, followed by sudden changes in duties, customer abuse, and sexual harassment, and the industries hardest hit included healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and transportation. 

So how do we reconcile these two narratives? On the one hand, more workers here are saying they want balance and actively pursuing leisure activities. On the other, the problem of karoshi (death from overwork) seems to remain deeply entrenched. Depending on your industry and employer, you might find a progressive workplace that encourages time off, or one where the culture still prioritizes loyalty and long hours over wellbeing.

For me, the takeaway is that leisure isn't just one of those things that's nice to have, but moreso a protective mechanism against what can be a pretty brutal work culture here. As foreigners, it's worth tracking our hours, using our leave, and carving out time for activities that recharge us, whether that's travel, food, or simply rest. If your workplace feels unsafe, there are support resources in English that can help, such as the couple I've listed below:

• Tokyo English Lifeline (TELL) for mental health services: telljp.com
• Tokyo Employment Consultation Center: For info on labor related laws, offering advice free of charge: https://tecc.mhlw.go.jp/english/

Overwork info source: https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h02473/