Japan pushes four-day workweek to tackle labor shortage

TOKYO, JAPAN — Japan is promoting the adoption of four-day workweeks among its notoriously hardworking citizens to address its worrying labor shortage.
The government’s “work style reform” campaign aims to create a more flexible work environment and improve work-life balance in a country known for its intense work culture.
Slow adoption despite government support
The Japanese government first supported shorter workweeks in 2021, but the concept has been slow to gain traction. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, only 8% of companies currently offer three or more days off per week. Many employees are hesitant to adopt the new system, with pressures to conform and fear of losing income holding them back.
To encourage wider adoption, especially among small and medium-sized businesses, the labor ministry is offering free consulting, grants, and a growing library of success stories.
“By realizing a society in which workers can choose from a variety of working styles based on their circumstances, we aim to create a virtuous cycle of growth and distribution and enable each and every worker to have a better outlook for the future,” states the ministry’s website about the “hatarakikata kaikaku” campaign.
Cultural challenges and shifting attitudes
Despite these efforts, the initiative faces significant challenges. Japanese companies, long known for their workaholic culture, have been slow to embrace more flexible working conditions. Even Panasonic, which offers the option to its 63,000 employees, has seen only 150 workers take up the four-day workweek. This reflects the deep-rooted societal expectations that prioritize loyalty and long hours.
The country even has the term “karoshi,” which means “death from overwork.” A recent government white paper reported at least 54 such fatalities annually.
However, there are signs of change. Some major companies, including Fast Retailing Co. (owner of Uniqlo), Shionogi & Co., and Hitachi, have begun offering four-day workweek options. Even in the demanding finance industry, firms like SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. and Mizuho Financial Group have introduced flexible scheduling.
Benefits and employee experiences
Proponents of the three-days-off model argue that it encourages people with various responsibilities, such as childcare or elder care, to remain in the workforce longer.
Akiko Yokohama, an employee at Spelldata, a Tokyo-based technology company offering four-day schedules, shares her experience: “It’s hard when you aren’t feeling well to keep going for five days in a row. The rest allows you to recover or go see the doctor. Emotionally, it’s less stressful.”
While challenges remain, this shift in work culture could be a crucial step toward addressing Japan’s labor shortage and improving the overall quality of life for its citizens.