Work-Life Balance in Japan Tradition versus Transformation

In Japan, deeply rooted cultural expectations and extremely long working hours influence the daily life of many professionals. The traditional work culture, in which it is considered inappropriate to leave the workplace while the supervisor is still present, often leads to significant stress.

Working Hours and Societal Expectations

Many Japanese work until the late evening hours. The term “Karoshi” – which translates as “death from overwork” – symbolizes the deadly consequences of extreme work overload, which frequently results in cardiovascular diseases such as strokes or heart attacks. This issue has been discussed since the 1970s and remains a central topic in the debate around a healthy work environment. ^[1]

Initiatives to Improve Work-Life Balance

Many companies are increasingly promoting a healthier balance between work and personal life by encouraging employees to take regular breaks and fully use their vacation time. Legal regulations limit overtime to a maximum of 45 hours per month and 360 hours per year – although under certain conditions, special agreements can be made. ^[2]

Remote Work in Japan – Post-Pandemic Developments

The model of working from home has never truly taken hold in Japan. Even during the peak of the pandemic, only a few, mainly local and international tech companies, implemented remote work. Before the pandemic, the rate was about 10 %, which only increased to around 20 % during the pandemic – meaning that 80 % of citizens continued to work in an office. By comparison, in the USA, the percentage of remote work increased from 17 % to an impressive 44 %. ^[3]

Vacation Usage and Overtime

Despite legal vacation entitlements, Japanese employees on average take only 8.8 vacation days per year – less than half of what they are entitled to. OECD data shows that an average Japanese person works around 348 hours more per year than, for example, a German worker. These extra working hours add up to roughly three months of overtime per year. ^[1]

Results of the Survey (Staff Service Holdings, July 2023)

A survey of 920 professionals aged 17 to 62 revealed that 70.2 % of respondents believe that taking leave is “easy” – a figure that rises to 76.1 % among Generation Z. Nevertheless, 43.7 % feel uneasy when applying for leave. Only 18.8 % take their full annual leave; among the so-called bubble generation, it is merely 22.6 %. It is also noteworthy that 42.5 % of respondents use less than 40 % of their legally entitled vacation time. At HosonoDE, all statutory vacation days must be used. ^[4]

HosonoDE – An Alternative Work Model

HosonoDE, the company behind the RyuKoch blog, pursues a modern work model that consciously addresses some of the negative aspects of traditional Japanese work culture.

Sick Leave Policy and Vacation Entitlements

Unlike many traditional companies in Japan, at HosonoDE, no vacation days are automatically deducted in the event of illness. Vacation days remain intact, while the salary is only slightly adjusted, as the day or hours are considered unpaid. Even for menstrual pain, employees can take short notice leave or leave earlier, which is rather uncommon in Japan due to the associated shame towards the employer. ^[5]

Overtime and Working Hours

At HosonoDE, there is no obligation to work overtime. Although the contracts specify a 40-hour work week , most employees work on average less than 174 hours per month due to occasional absences (e.g., sick days, menstrual pain, or migraines) and the option of “Bonus Leave” . Voluntary overtime can be used to flexibly compensate for such absences. If overtime is not used for compensation, it is paid out with a 50 % bonus, which is significantly above the legal minimum bonus of 25 % that is often not adequately implemented in many companies. ^[5]

Flexible Holiday Regulations and Work Time Models

Although HosonoDE is a Japanese company, it utilizes the German public holiday system to meet the needs of customers in the D-A-CH region. Employees can thus shift holidays flexibly to better accommodate family and social commitments. Additionally, the option is provided to offset worked overtime by working in advance or later – and with good performance, there is also the option to take unpaid bonus leave (Bonus Leave). ^[5]

Karoshi, Karojisatsu and Suicides: Risks, Examples and Prevention

The extreme working conditions in Japan not only lead to physical illnesses but also to severe psychological stress, which in some cases results in suicide.

Karoshi – Death from Overwork

The term “Karoshi” describes death resulting from excessive work, often caused by cardiovascular diseases such as strokes or heart attacks. This term has been in use since the 1970s – the first documented cases occurred as early as 1978 at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Japan Association of Industrial Health. Examples clearly illustrate the magnitude of the problem:

• An employee who worked 110 hours per week died at the age of 34 from a heart attack.
• A bus driver who worked over 3,000 hours a year and had no day off in the 15 days leading up to a stroke.
• A printing press worker in Tokyo who worked 4,320 hours per year and died of a stroke – with compensation paid out only 14 years later.
• A 22-year-old nurse who died of a heart attack after several 34-hour shifts.

^{Source for the examples [6]}

Karojisatsu – Suicide Due to Work Overload

In addition to the physical consequences of Karoshi, extreme work overload also leads to suicidal reactions – known as Karojisatsu. Causes include excessively long working hours such as night shifts and weekend work, high performance pressure, forced layoffs, bullying, and profound organizational changes. Middle management, caught between restructuring decisions and protecting employees, is particularly affected.

Preventive Measures

• The reduction of excessive working hours and abstaining from work on weekends and public holidays.
• The improvement of medical support as well as access to adequate treatment and psychological counseling, especially for depression.
• The promotion of dialogue between employers and employees to establish healthier work processes.
• Regular OSH risk assessments to identify and mitigate psychosocial stress at an early stage.

Train Delays Due to Suicide

Another aspect that highlights the problem of Karoshi and Karojisatsu in Japan is the unfortunate connection with delays in train services. Japan is internationally renowned for its extremely punctual and efficient rail system. However, interruptions still occur, often announced with the message “Personenschaden” (personal injury). This announcement usually indicates that someone has thrown themselves in front of a train. Such incidents can disrupt train services for one to three hours. I once experienced that my train was involved in such a tragic incident. It was an extremely surreal and distressing experience: Within a very short time, dozens of rescue workers and police officers arrived on the scene, their behavior eerily routine – as if they encountered such situations regularly. Unfortunately, this appears to be the case and reflects how deeply these stresses are anchored in Japanese society.

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Global Suicide Rates in Context (Comparison within G20 and G7 Countries)

To better assess the issue of societal and work-related stress, it is worthwhile to look at suicide rates in an international context. Based on WHO data from 2019 (suicides per 100,000 inhabitants), there are clear differences among the G20 member states, which include both emerging economies and highly developed countries.

Among the G20 countries, South Africa has the highest suicide rate at 23.5, followed by Russia (21.6) and South Korea (21.2). In these countries, complex social and economic factors as well as significant psychological stress play a decisive role.

By comparison, Japan, despite its well-known societal challenges such as Karoshi and Karojisatsu, ranks in the middle among G20 countries with a suicide rate of 12.2. However, within the economically strongest nations (the G7), it is at a concerningly high level – only the USA has a higher suicide rate of 14.5 within the G7 group. Other G7 countries such as France (9.7), Canada (10.3), Germany (8.3), the United Kingdom (6.9), and Italy (6.7) have significantly lower rates.

These figures reveal the diverse and complex causes of suicide, with Japan standing out particularly within the G7 context. Preventing psychological stress and promoting a balanced work culture remain key socio-political challenges, not just in Japan but globally. ^{[7] [8]}

Country	Suicide Rate (2019)
South Africa	23.5
Russia	21.6
South Korea	21.2
USA (G7)	14.5
India	12.9
Japan (G7)	12.2
Australia	11.3
Canada (G7)	10.3
France (G7)	9.7
Brazil	8.8
Germany (G7)	8.3
Argentina	8.1
United Kingdom (G7)	6.9
Italy (G7)	6.7
China	6.7
Mexico	~5.3
Indonesia	~3.7
Saudi Arabia	~3.4
Turkey	~2.4

These figures illustrate how diverse and complex the causes of suicide are, with Japan standing out particularly within the G7 context. Preventing psychological stress and promoting a balanced work culture thus remain key socio-political challenges, not only in Japan but globally. ^{[7] [8]}

Summary and Outlook

This document provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges of work-life balance in Japan – from traditional, often excessively long working hours and insufficient vacation usage to serious consequences such as Karoshi , Karojisatsu and suicidal tendencies. The alternative work model of HosonoDE demonstrates approaches to mitigate these shortcomings. In addition, the comparison of global suicide rates among selected G20 countries provides an international context that underscores the societal pressure. Future versions of this document will be continuously expanded and updated. All new information will always be supported by verifiable sources to provide a transparent and well-founded archive.

Sources

1. FAZ – Arbeit ist das ganze Leben
2. Daijob – Navigating Work Hours and Breaks in Japan
3. Japan Dev – Remote Work in Japan
4. Nippon.com – Japan Data
5. HosonoDE Jobs
6. ILO Case Study – Karoshi: Death from Overwork
7. WHO Global Health Observatory
8. Wikipedia – List of countries by suicide rate