Karoshi means death from overwork. Overwork and excessive stress cause health problems, such as cerebral / heart diseases, mental disorders, and, eventually, death.

The term "Karoshi" has become widely used in Japan since the KAROSHI Hotline was launched in 1988. This term is now being used more often in other industrialized countries as well.

Nevertheless, there are still many cases of Karoshi. This site, available both in English and in Japanese, aims to offer users basic information on karoshi.

We hope that the site will be of some help for you in conducting your studies and studies.

  • May/16/2008: This site was last updated.
  • Nov/19/2007: National Defense Counsel for Victims of Karoshi submitted its demands to the Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare in order to stop doctors' death from overwork and improve doctors' working conditions.
  • Nov/17/2007: The biannual telephone consultations were conducted. See the results here.
  • Nov/14/2007: National Defense Counsel for Victims of Karoshi held a symposium titled “No More Karoshi by Doctors: Aiming at improving doctors' working condition"
  • Jun/21/2007: The biannual telephone consultations were conducted. See the results here.
  • May/15/2007: Mr. David K. Shipler, author of “The Working Poor: Invisible in America," visited Japan and gave a special lecture co-hosted by National Defense Counsel for Victims of Karoshi and Labour Lawyers Associations of Japan.
  • Jan/29/2007: “The Working Poor: Invisible in America" (authored by David K. Shipler) was added to the list of “Karoshi Articles and Books."
  • Nov/25/2006: The biannual telephone consultations were conducted. See the results here.
  • Oct/02./2006: The resolution against the introduction of “White-Collar Exempt" working-hour system was adopted at the 19th Annual Conference of National Defense Counsel for Victims of Karoshi that was held on Sep/29/2006.
  • Jun/22/2006: The symposium titled “Change the ‘epoch of overwork'! Never allow the introduction of ‘White-Collar Exempt' working-hour system" adopted an appeal against the “White-Collar Exempt" working-hour system. The symposium was hosted by Labour Lawyers Associations of Japan and supported by National Defense Counsel for Victims of Karoshi.
  • Jun/17/2006: The biannual telephone consultations were conducted. See the results here.
  • Oct/05/2005: The resolution against the introduction of “White-Collar Exempt" working-hour system was adopted at the 18th Annual Conference of National Defense Counsel for Victims of Karoshi that was held on Oct/01/2005.
  • Jun/18/2005: The annual telephone consultations were conducted. See the results here.
  • Jun/10/2005: This site was renewed.

The office of the KAROSHI Hotline National Network
The office of the National Defence Counsel for Victims of KAROSHI
Kawahito Law Office
ICN Bldg., 2-27-17 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo
TEL:03-3813-6999 FAX:03-3813-6902