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.

  • Aug/25/2010: Updated to "KAROSHI Articles and Books"
  • Aug/28/2010: Updated to "Activities"「過重労働対策基本法の制定を」 (Japanese ONLY)
  • Jul/31/2010: Updated to "KAROSHI Articles and Books"
  • Jul/31/2010: Updated to 「過労死110番」運動のあゆみ (Japanese ONLY)
  • Jul/31/2010: Added 「NHK『カンテツな女』番組作りに関する申入書」 to "Activities" (Japanese ONLY)
  • Jun/21/2010: The biannual telephone consultations were conducted on June 19th. See the results here.
  • Nov/22/2009: Requested the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to revise the 「精神障害・自殺判断指針」 The written opinion and the reform proposal. (Japanese ONLY)
  • June/23/2009: The consultation of "KAROSHI", KAROSHI suicide, and overwork disorders was conducted on June 20th.
    See the result.
  • Mar/31/2009: Added 「問題解決 労働法７ 安全衛生・労働災害」 to "KAROSHI Articles and Books". (Japanese ONLY)
  • Nov/27/2008: Conducted the meeting 「Anti-KAROSHI law! KAROSHI hotline」 (過労死防止法を！ 過労死・過労自殺１１０番)
    See the result. (Japanese ONLY)
  • Nov/21/2008: Requested the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare to reconsider the criterion of the recognition of worker's compensation insurance (労災認定基準), and to enact the "anti-KAROSHI fundamental law" (過労死防止基本法). Written requests and related activities. (Japanese ONLY)
  • Sep/26/2008: Adopted the resolution of request to enact the "anti-KAROSHI fundamental law" (過労死防止基本法) on the 21st national liaison conference of National Defense Counsel for Victims of Karoshi. See the detail.
  • Jun/18/2008: The biannual telephone consultation was conducted. See the detail.
  • Jun/12/2008: Conducted the 20th anniversary symposium of KAROSHI hotline "How to execute the prevention and compensation for KAROSHI" on June 11th.
  • Apr/05/2008: Added the "Breaking doctors" (壊れゆく医師たち) to "KAROSHI Articles and Books". (Japanese ONLY)
  • 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