Karoshi

Lore & Background

The first case of karoshi was reported in 1969 with the stroke-related death of a 29-year-old male worker in the shipping department of Japan's largest newspaper company. In 1988, the Labor Force Survey reported that almost one fourth of male working employees worked over 60 hours per week. Realizing the seriousness, a group of lawyers and doctors set up nationally available 'karoshi hotlines' to help those seeking consultation. Japan's post-war economic rise was regarded as the trigger for what was called a new epidemic, as employees could not work 12 or more hours a day, 6–7 days a week, year after year, without suffering physically and mentally.

Reader's Guide

Karoshi's significance lies in its recognition of the lethal consequences of chronic overwork, prompting legal, corporate, and societal responses in Japan and beyond. The 1988 establishment of karoshi hotlines, which received 1,806 calls from 1988 to 1990, highlighted the hidden toll on workers and their families. Government policies, such as the 2006 revision of the Industry Safety and Health Act, mandated health checks for long-hour employees. Corporate responses included Toyota limiting overtime to 360 hours a year and Nissan allowing remote work, while the 2017 'Premium Friday' campaign encouraged early leave. The phenomenon also influenced a shift toward part-time work among young Japanese, known as 'freeters,' as a reaction to overwork culture. Karoshi remains a global issue, with over 770 annual deaths in Sweden despite robust labor regulations.

Did You Know?

• The first karoshi case was a 29-year-old male worker who died of a stroke in 1969 at a newspaper company.
• In 1988, almost one fourth of male Japanese employees worked over 60 hours per week.
• A 22-year-old nurse died from a heart attack after 34 hours of continuous duty five times a month.
• Karōjisatsu (overwork suicide) has led to legal and insurance debates in Japan, though specific exemption clauses are not a standard part of the documented history.