How the Japanese are putting an end to extreme work weeks

Employees in the country whose brutal office culture has led to several deaths are beginning to rethink the tradition.

As an example, she describes how she helped one major Japanese corporation create a more open environment where workers felt comfortable discussing how they wanted to change their work style – something which is still taboo in many traditional companies. The end result? Overtime hours were cut by 15% – and the rates of taken paid holiday rose to 61%.

While Komuro describes the Work Style Reform Bill as a “huge step in the history of Japanese labour law”, the low rate of taken holiday leave is clearly just one element among many that need addressing in order to modernise the nation’s work culture. To bring about real change, she highlights the importance of tackling a raft of deep-rooted issues in society – from boosting the nation’s dwindling birthrate and supporting paternity leave to creating a workforce that is more accommodating to women and the elderly.

“Japan is starting to change. However, this change is not easy.”

‘Memorial services’ for unused leave

Grassroots efforts to bring about change in workplace styles also appear to be underway – such as the recent “memorial service” in Osaka to “mourn” untaken holiday leave which was recently led by a Buddhist priest, paying tribute to the lost dreams of Japan’s holiday-starved workforce.

More than 300 lanterns were lit, each with workers’ messages describing their feelings about not having taken their full holiday quote over the years – some incredulous, some heartbreaking, all regretful.

“My child’s birthday party was delayed by seven months,” read one message, while others said: “I could not say goodbye to my grandparents after they died” and “I reached retirement age without using 90% of leave every year”.