Main content

Worked to Death in Japan

Edwin Lane reports from Japan, which has some of the longest working hours in the world, and a worrying trend of young people working themselves to death.

Edwin Lane reports from Japan, which has some of the longest working hours in the world, and a worrying trend of young people working themselves to death. He meets Michiyo Nishigaki, the mother of one victim of karoshi - the Japanese term used to describe death from overwork - and asks why the government isn't doing more to curb the overtime culture in many Japanese companies.

Makoto Iwahashi from the campaign group Posse explains the pressures facing young workers. Local government official Hitoshi Ueno discusses how managers can encourage people to go home on time, and Koji Morioka, a karoshi researcher, tells us why the government isn't doing enough.

(Photo: Michiyo Nishigaki, mother of a karoshi victim, Credit: ±«Óãtv)

Available now

18 minutes

Last on

Mon 29 May 2017 07:32GMT

Broadcast

  • Mon 29 May 2017 07:32GMT

Business Daily Podcast

Download every programme.

Podcast