From Workaholism to Work-Life Balance, Japan’s Government Pushes for Change
Japan, a nation where dedication to work is almost a cultural identity, is making a bold shift. The government is encouraging its citizens to embrace a four-day workweek, hoping to tackle a growing labor shortage and improve the work-life balance for millions.
The idea isn’t entirely new. Back in 2021, Japan’s government first showed support for a shorter workweek after lawmakers endorsed it. However, progress has been slow. As of now, only about 8% of companies in Japan offer employees the option to work just four days a week. Many employees still struggle to take even the legally mandated one day off per week.
To push the initiative further, the government has launched a “work style reform” campaign, known as “hatarakikata kaikaku,” aimed at promoting shorter working hours, flexible schedules, and better work-life balance. This campaign includes free consulting services, financial grants, and a growing collection of success stories from companies that have made the switch.
But change isn’t easy. Even with government backing, cultural norms around work in Japan remain strong. Panasonic Holdings, for example, offers 63,000 of its employees the option to work four-day weeks. Yet, only 150 have taken the offer. The pressure to conform, to put in long hours and sacrifice personal time for the company, is still very much alive in Japanese workplaces.
For many, the idea of taking an extra day off seems almost radical. Japan’s work culture is famously intense, with terms like “karoshi” (death from overwork) underscoring the extreme dedication some employees show. Long hours and unreported “service overtime” are still common, even as the government tries to steer the nation toward a more balanced lifestyle.
Yet, there’s hope that this change could make a difference, particularly as Japan grapples with a declining birth rate and an aging population. With the working-age population expected to shrink dramatically by 2065, proponents of the four-day workweek argue that it could help keep more people, especially those balancing family care responsibilities, in the workforce.
Some companies are already seeing the benefits. Take Spelldata, a small tech company in Tokyo. Akiko Yokohama, an employee there, now enjoys Wednesdays off along with her weekends. She uses the time for personal appointments and family activities, and says the extra day off has significantly reduced her stress.
In the long term, embracing flexible work schedules could be key to Japan’s economic survival. Critics warn that simply shortening the workweek won’t be enough if it results in lower pay or added pressure to complete the same amount of work in fewer days. But the conversation is changing.
Recent surveys show that Japanese workers are among the least engaged globally, with only 6% feeling passionate about their jobs. This lack of engagement points to a deeper issue that the four-day workweek could help address—burnout and dissatisfaction with the traditional work model.
Companies like Fast Retailing (owner of Uniqlo), Shionogi & Co., and Hitachi have started offering shorter workweeks, joining the ranks of those trying to shift the nation’s work culture. Even in the finance sector, known for its demanding hours, companies like SMBC Nikko Securities and Mizuho Financial Group have introduced four-day schedules.
However, the path forward is still uncertain. As Japan continues to navigate this cultural shift, the hope is that more companies will see the value in offering flexible work options, and that workers will feel empowered to embrace them.