Japan's teachers vulnerable to overwork deaths | DW News

The Japanese word karoshi means "death from overwork." Too much work kills Japan's overstretched workers with heart attacks, strokes from mental stress, malnourishment. Teachers seem to be particularly vulnerable to karoshi.
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#Japan #work #karoshi

[@mishil28]

I am a foreigner working at Japanese high schools and I am horrified at how much my coworkers work. I can't even make small talk with them about the weekend because their answer is being at school. They have no personal time and hardly take vacations. The ones with family tell me their kids complain about not seeing them. I can't imagine anyone in the new generation even wanting to be a teacher. Who would look forward to such a life?

[@Devilishlybenevolent]

All that overtime and they aren't even paid for it, wow. That's a super messed up situation.

[@ridgemondhigh4891]

Kids should be home schooled/have online lessons. Everyone else should do freelance, remote work, or just become _hikikomoris._

[@dfsdh432v9]

teachers union in japan is the most powerful political group in japan. most teachers in public school enjoy 9-5 working hour. go look up work related death in your country, i bet its 500% more.

[@jaykay2025]

@@dfsdh432v9 found the Japanese government employee

[@dfsdh432v9]

@@jaykay2025 public school teachers in japan all work for japanese government. 🙄

[@selmahare]

I am quitting a teaching job because for the past two months, almost the entire term, I have been constantly sick, from the flu, to then covid for the first time, to migraines, to my mental health starting to decline due to the constant sickness brought about by over exhaustion and lack of sleep, and to my school pressuring me to return to work and teach while still with covid and breathless symptoms. The stress and overwork weaken your immune system and literally make you physically and mentally ill. I have been a teacher for 11 years now and I can tell you that there is no love of a profession that is worth your health and ultimately your life. In Japan and in the world, until this society learns to respect and value teachers I will not be advising anyone to get into this profession. Overwork kills!

[@selmahare]

@Madman Curie Oh I gave in my notice two months ago, and also just got another teaching job in another country, starting in January, and getting much better paid too (as in an actual living salary and not the Pennies I was getting paid as well). And if I get the due respect to my dignity and integrity there I will stay if not, I will just leave teaching altogether, and will call it a day.

[@thelorax7704]

I can understand why you are quitting. There comes a point where it is just too much and you have to put your mental and physical health above the profession. It is unfortunate that many people do not understand that most teachers work long hours and are very dedicated to the students. Teachers do not get respect from the general public in most cases. The pandemic made it even worse... much worse. It's why so many, like you are leaving the profession. I am a retired science teacher. I left a position as a software engineer to teach and loved it, but if I was teaching today I probably would do exactly what you are doing. I'd put my talents to use in another field. I wish you the best.

[@rons5319]

No job is worth your health and well being. My wife was a teacher and almost every year she would bring home some of the worst colds and flu and respiratory illness I've ever seen. Many times the hacking cough would last months before it was completely gone, and in the first week of it the cough would keep her from sleeping it was so bad. This was before corona ever came along. Those classrooms are virus incubators and petri dishes for disease. Since she left teaching, no more sickness.

[@Grimenoughtomaketherobotcry]

I'm very grateful to have been able to retire in 2016 after teaching high school for thirty years. I hope you find a positive situation that allows you to grow.

[@Crashed131963]

Not in Canada. Teachers get entire Summer off , Christmas,news year , March break weekends and long weekends. start at 9am to 5pm

[@vic.k.y_b]

Social pressure is a major part of the Japanese teaching culture. I'm currently working with pre-university students, so exams are always stressing out my coworkers. I'm expected to work for 2 hours of overtime each day due to pressure. Recently, one of my coworkers left for a few days due to his physical health. My coworkers complain that he is being lazy for not coming to school. Other forms of leave, such as period leave and maternity/paternity leave are often not fully taken or not taken at all to show dedication to my workplace. All of my students can tell that their teachers are overworked and overstressed. Many of my coworkers will sleep, cry, and self-destruct at their desks. Perfection and social pressure are harming Japanese schools.

[@cinpeace353]

If there are enough staffs to take care the job, this won't happen. People complained because someone takes day off means they have to take extra workload that already too high for them.

[@sharongillesp]

Dying from a false idea of perfection, which doesn’t exist! Sorry to hear that.

[@vic.k.y_b]

@Cin Peace Unfortunately, that's not the case. If you don't have enough work, you will be assigned more. Numbers don't matter at my workplace, as we have a high teacher to student ratio. You have to look as if you're busy at all times. I'm in the largest department, and most coworkers can do our department's work promptly. It's much more with added obligations such as national/pre-university/cultural-based commitments. You can't say no to someone superior. Work becomes your life, and weekend work is regularly expected to show dedication. There's a rigid hierarchical structure that most Western countries don't have.

[@vic.k.y_b]

@SEG Very much so, false sense of perfection and dedication. Thank you, working in Japan is romanticized at times, yet it's the only employment I could get.

[@Bastion83]

@@vic.k.y_b I understand that sadly that is reality there, but good lord that is...insane. It needs to change. I used to wonder why Hikimori and Karoshi existed largely in Japan and other countries with a similar structure....After a bit of research, I get it, its just horrifying.

[@norieushijima8731]

My relative has brain damage due to overwork, which made him impossible to work as he did, and we cannot even communicate with him as we did. I know we should appreciate the fact that he did not die from it, he is still with us, but it's just so sad that he does not even remember me and all the memories we had because of people who did not take his life seriously and used him as if he was their robot. My homeroom teacher back in high school was overstressed because she could not even have time to spend with her kids, and she even told us not to dream of being a teacher like her because she did not want us to end up like her. It's just hopeless. I want people to stop saying, "BECAUSE IT'S OUR CULTURE," our culture is killing people.

[@tracesprite6078]

Please stop overworking and stop giving your students too much work. Visit the Nordic nations and see what they do. It's much healthier.

[@5k4nt3r2k1]

Japan is still awaiting to 'replenish' its population; whereas its population is still awaiting to get off work.

[@anonmouse15]

Redoubling your efforts while entirely forgetting your purpose.

[@stephaniedawsey9354]

That’s horrible. Teachers all over the world suffer from overwork. I quit mid year here in Texas (United States) when I heard “That’s what you signed up for” when I brought it to my principals attention that I had been working 70+ hours a week. We can definitely not complete all our responsibilities within our paid contract hours. Some schools/administrators are way worse than others but I do feel it’s a systemic problem that needs to be addressed.

[@friedrichjunzt]

I read about a teacher in Calfornia, who had breast cancer and who had to pay her own substitute teacher. I only wonder why anyone in America wants to be a teacher.

[@stephaniedawsey9354]

@@friedrichjunzt it’s the same in Texas. Probably all across the US. Once we use our sick/personal days (8-10 in TX) we pay the district. Never mind the hours we put in nights and weekends, or the up at 3am putting sub plans together when we’re sick, or the fact that when we’re off on sick days or disability they ask us to enter grades or do other duties from home.

[@rzadigi]

One thing that is definitely different from Japanese schools and US schools is the vacations. There is no summer break for Japanese teachers. If they are lucky they get five days off. Same for the winter break. And that’s pretty much it other than the occasional national holiday. It is hard for westerners to understand the situation but there life is work and nothing else.

[@estellar.367]

and teachers are so underrated and parents allways blame them when is the parents fault.

[@mgithaiga1]

In the Australian soap opera 'Home and away' there was an episode where a group of Japanese tourist who were supposed to be on vacation tried so hard to relax they died.

[@LOVE-ny4pj]

which episode

[@mgithaiga1]

@@LOVE-ny4pj it aired in 1999

[@tristinkirby]

As someone who works 93 to 106 hours a week I fully understand and it is literally killing us. I am not a teacher I am a paper mill worker just trying to live a comfortable life and not be in debt. I remember a spoke to a lady from Germany that I play a game with when I told her I work 16 hours shifts she thought I was joking. Then asked me how that could even be legal. The truth is big companies for the most part don't give a damn about their workers only profit. They will replace you and move on.

[@604h22a]

Noble financial goal but nonetheless health is very important

[@djm2189]

Question, instead of killing yourself working all these hours to secure a better future, not instead get a better paying job and enjoy life? Work smarter not harder. It's been proven time and again that swapping jobs brings the highest pay. Longevity of time at a company means nothing nowadays. I mean I'm 28 and within 12 months went from 75k to $100k and now $112k. I helped my friend who was at this company for 15 years go from 75k to 100k! Imagine how many years till she got that bump from anual raises. Look I'm not trying to be mean, but be smarter. You're worth it to have a happier and better life vs making money for a corporation who could give two sh*** about you.

[@Doors067]

The more you make the more your expected to do. I left my 45 k job to take a 65k job and it was awful so I went back

[@djm2189]

@@Doors067 not always. Can be the case though. Your jobs seemed lower level with that pay. Im 28, and earn $112k+. I work less than before but it is more specific for the industry so came down to supply and demand. Less folks can do what I do so I can command a higher salary. Also barely make 30hrs/week.

[@petermischler7324]

Welcome to capitalism!

[@martymartyn7829]

An extra 120 hours a month is an extra 30 hours a week or 14 hours per day. That's like 2 jobs with a break for meals. So, a 24 hour day would mean 8 hours of sleep, 14 hours of work and 2 hours personal time --- not counting time spent for transportation.... this is insane.

[@D.2601]

It’s the same in India, youngsters die on floor while on job but since we have a hugeeeee population the waiting room is always & forever full , so it only means one more vacancy nothing else. Media doesn’t cover these things…big company uses us like use n throw masks

[@patb-d2264]

Exactly!Those teachers are doing the jobs of 3 or 4 people! The solution is to employ more teachers,mentors,"After-school club' personnel etc in these places! Did I see a teacher 'cleaning snow' from what looked like a playground? Now!That certainly has nothing to do with 'Teaching'!! It is

[@emily7195]

I am a foreman this is my life also

[@soulkiss1013]

And the fact that they don't even get paid is even more insane. 😳

[@madelineduffin1352]

My sister was teaching in Taiwan for 18 years and i think she died from Karoshi. She worked from 8 am until midnight for a very long time. She died five years ago from a massive asthma attack and heart failure. She was only 46 years old. She was from Canada so its not just a japanese issue, the intense drive to work overtime and neglect health care and other work life balance issues affect people from around the world. The teaching and work culture demand that people give more than just eight hours a day. My sister found it very hard to get all the work done in that amount of time so she justified herself being at the school long after other teachers went home.

[@milagrosroman2882]

What? What school did she work at? Stay at school until midnight? Was she a principal? I worked teaching in Taiwan for the last 20 years and I never saw such a thing. If your last class ends at the latest 9:30pm teachers might leave by ten, but we don't spend the whole day teaching, it is impossible. And no boss or principal would stay so late at school like midnight. If your sister worked mornings afternoons and evenings teaching classes by Thursday you have no voice and a sore throat. If she died from asthma then maybe because of high pollution there. Anyways, so sorry for your loss my your sister RIP.

[@cinpeace353]

It is a sign of under staff.

[@mellsrod4820]

@@milagrosroman2882 stop questioning her meathead, let her be

[@milagrosroman2882]

Mells Rod - Stop telling me what to do, freak. My sister and I worked all over the Island for many many years. I have friends that worked there for many years. I know what I'm talking about. You don't. So let me be.

[@emmapalya1682]

I'm sorry for your loss

[@calicattus7986]

i retired after 33 years as a teacher. my husband, an engineer, would sometimes come home and say, "i defended you today." i knew what he meant: someone was accusing teachers of not working because we "went home at 3:00, had every holiday off and had all summer off." he knew better because he saw me working.

[@zshimul1496]

life is more valuable than work.

[@user-is3yn7xr4c]

"Life is a battleground." - Carl Jung

[@williamjhunter5714]

When you hear advice as a child drilled into you: "Hard work never hurt anyone." The guy who said it deligated work.

[@Essex-ux4zv]

They admire teachers so much that they work them to death!

[@hilaholo6822]

Honestly not just in Japan, I'm a teacher and usually I got home at 6-8 PM when the school start around 6.30 AM. Also sometimes we need to work at weekend too. Schools doesn't pay for it too, and don't forget how we sometimes responsible for everything the students do as their parents didn't pay any attention to them

[@ennykraft]

Ths is horrifying. Here in Germany teachers teach only for 26 hours per week, the rest of their weekly work hours (38) is reserved for preparing lessons and grading papers. They also get 12 weeks of vacations in total per year. And German students don't do significantly worse than the ones in Japan in PISA studies.

[@hilaholo6822]

That sounds like a heaven for teachers 😭 meanwhile in here, a lot of teachers (especially younger one) can work up till 40hrs/week (for teaching) + 3hrs/week (for extracurricular activities) + 17hrs/week (for other things, such as operating the school web, etc. Especially the younger one)

[@EPluribusUnumSemper]

I’d quit teaching middle school in California last year after 4 years in the profession, and working 80 to 90 hours a week is the norm, especially for new teachers. It has been drilled into us in teacher preparation/credentialing programs that we always have to put the interest of our students first. So under circumstances where there is a lack of resources and personnel, teachers has to step up and take on extra duty. I taught 5 different subjects, organized and advising a cultural club, and were still expected to prepare students in a STEAM program for competitions. All of it without overtime pay. The stress was immense and I was always tired from sleeping only 4 hours a night. I was working all the time but was barely dreading water to stay afloat. The other teachers would tell me to hang in there and only a few more years the district will offer me a permanent contract. I had a temporary contract, so every year I didn’t even know if I would have a job the following year, and I saw colleagues that have more years teaching than I do in the same situation. Some of my veteran colleagues see it as a right of passage and it’s a part of some kind of hazing ritual. I might have put up with it and stay in the profession if I’d known exactly when they will give me a permanent contract, but the process is arbitrary and you can’t afford to say no to an administrator. Finally I broke because students were out of control with Tik Tok trends and disrespectful behaviors and administrators and parents refused to help. I hate leaving a profession that I love, doing something that I’m really good at, but I couldn’t put up with all the challenges anymore. I still work 80 hours a week with two full time jobs as a social worker and a delivery man, but I have next to no stress and make twice the amount of money.

[@ruby__2879]

80 to 90 hours?! Thats crazy. Assuming the teachers have weekends off, giving five days of work. That would equate to 16 to 18 hours per day.

[@Denise6000-cs4mo]

That's still too much work--you need balance in your life, otherwise work just becomes your God. I have been a social worker and know what that entails. You may ruin your health working that many hours because your body still needs rest.

[@Anamillio]

Good for you. I'm not a teacher but I always felt that teachers in the USA are underpaid and overworked. Sometimes you have to walk away from something you love to create room to love yourself (by treating yourself well, enough sleep, less stress...)

[@eyeswideopen7777]

Why don't you share workload with an assistant

[@sobsag]

@Dess Bhakktt wrong you capitalist slave

[@SabineWald_NowHere]

This makes me so sad. Been there myself. Was a close call but luckily I got out of it. Life is for living, not for slavery to your government or employer. We should enjoy every second of it and see the sunshine. Office work is also a killer. Stress, bone health and name it - it is all due to our slavery. May the governments let us enjoy our lives more. The best of luck to these beautiful people. I have so much appreciation for Japanese who are so well mannered and appreciative. Much love

[@magnolia8626]

Well said.

[@mosimosi630]

Office work is the biggest killer because of sitting on your desk

[@kasondaleigh]

I agree. It is slavery without the physical chains.

[@tias.6675]

Wholeheartedly agree - governments need to be put in their place though.

[@markwhittaker6866]

@@kasondaleigh You are absolutely right.

[@jettj6088]

They need to stop taking advantage of folks and pay overtime. If they did their work loads would drop considerably. They are literally working people to death. It's heartbreaking.

[@helenaskor9718]

It also happens in Russia. Salary is so low, so teachers have to overwork. Classes are big, kids are uncontrollable

[@GoingtoHecq]

I would argue that Russia has a lot of poverty creating these issues.

[@iseegoodandbad6758]

Thank Goodness russian kids have far lower rates of adhd and autism than western kids. Otherwise it would be a complete and utter nightmare!!!

[@ZanetkaPL]

@@DavidGetling International schools often have students from higher class families who can afford international schools. Oftentimes behaviours are very different in inner city schools or schools in proverty striken areas.

[@alainepistolamata2881]

also in public school in the Philippines

[@user-ff2ef7vu2v]

Japan teachers can’t receive payment by overtime work. It is already decided to pay how much money. I heard from my friend who are teacher that he work overtime about 100hours in one month. One hour payment is 900yen. They of course work at Saturday to see club sports in school.

[@anonimous677]

Why work so hard if you died at the end anyway?

[@jimmyliu4614]

Teachers are highly respectful in Japan and the expectations to them are also very high. I hope people start to understand they are also normal human beings who should enjoy their personal life.

[@patriciaKnightley]

All cultures have their pros and cons. Japan’s culture has an incredible shiny exterior… with an interior that is…

[@JazzyArtKL]

What a nonsense.

[@sashagorohova6790]

Madness…how deeply sick is this humanity.

[@kimwarburton8490]

Teachers typically have 'helper' personalities. People with helper personalities often have poor boundaries regards meeting their own needs, they tend to be 'self-sacrificing', putting other's needs ahead of their own, other professionals include those who work in care and health fields. This is a universal problem, not just contained to japan, but at least japans' gov is taking the issue seriously^ ALOT of chronic ill health is down to an accumulation of stressors, including work stress, which then turns on/off certain epigenetic factors, creating myriad conditions, such as MECFS, long covid, cancer, MS, fibro, MCS etc etc I sit here unable to work because of MECFS and yes work stress was a contributing factor that helped to create my 'perfect storm' I never worked less than 55hours a week for years in a min wage job, just to survive n keep my head above water financially

[@yoshihiroikeda8230]

Not only school teacher in Japan most place are like that.

[@Sonzoul1]

I saw a documentary about Japan's work culture and there were a lot of strange habits. An example, if someone is very sick and could not go to work for one day, he/she had to apologize to each and single person in his/her department. A lot of them show up to work even if they are very sick. Being absent is seen as selfish. Another example, employees go to a bar after work to discuss work related topics and end up going home really late. They can not refuse to join the coworkers since the purpose of going to the bar is discussing about their job.

[@djm2189]

Majority of Japanese are great "task takers" but not "leaders". Let me preface this with the fact that I've worked for a number of Japanese companies and have meet with them when they visited the US. Japanese young adults are coddled to the point that they are weak. They cannot make a clear and defined decision and say yes to everything when you need clear and concise requirements. They also are pretty bad at running meetings when it comes to decisions, too quite and little pushback. I've noticed that western folks tend to be the leaders or part of the executive suite in Japanese companies. You need that leadership and cut throat attitude.

[@leonardo899]

Mexican work more hours than Japanese people do per week. Any google search will confirm that by all metrics, Mexicans work far longer days than anyone else. What this video describes, is basically any job in Mexico. You work tons of unpaid overtime out of fear of being fired.

[@cwnapier67]

@@leonardo899did not know that Mexico had that work culture too

[@TeaCup1940]

@@cwnapier67In Mexico it is not a work culture, it is a take advantage culture. People do it in Mexico to survive. People do it in Japan due to social pressure.

[@paredy5902]

No paid overtime, that is just begging to be abused by employers

[@anonmouse15]

Don't worry, they abuse it all they can.

[@nskaries]

Trust me on this one, working for a Japanese bank and they don't consider employee well being and work life balance. They are making us do a project that would take 2 years to finish in 6 months.

[@ItchyKneeSon]

How will you create Toyota, Honda, Makita, etc. with thinking like that?

[@etobillions]

@@ItchyKneeSon anything can be done with modesty. Japanese are just working hard not smart. ask yourself are Japanese car makers the only successful ones in the world? your country is sick

[@mkaizen1756]

"KAROSHI" is only happening cause all victims don´t get together to fight against these high pressure work system that should be concerned about the mental and physical health of all teachers. Not only teachers but the overall cultural mindset of Japan´s society needs to be changed to be more flexible, that´s why suicide rates are high there. Inhuman ways to implement a nonsense work pressure that can´t benefit anyone in their society. There should have a middle term in Education´s policy, not so flexible like here in BRAZIL, where public schools only create monsters due the low education.

[@sp1d3rm0nk3y33]

Waste of time. It's the asian culture of work. In South K. happens the same. There are people working 16 hours.

[@minyaksayur]

I don't think the Japanese can change. In Honda America is the same, the normal American worked like 40hrs per week, but the Japanese counterpart has to sign a contract not to work over 80 hrs per week, and not more than 100 hrs overtime per month. the Japanese have an "I must work" mentality is completely baffling.

[@mkaizen1756]

Kamikaze work mentatility leads to death and suicide.

[@danifranc7011]

Happens in China and Korea too

[@corporatedemocrat]

Japanese people never fight their corrupt government, their corrupt politicians. If they do the neighbors will all bully them. It s one of their tradition and culture. It s called "MuraHachibu".

[@pawshands9706]

Not just in Japan. Here in the U.S. many die from overwork, stress, and Neverending race to keep up with all the costs of living. It's a tragedy by product of too much all the time.

[@djm2189]

I'd say its high BUT spit into 2 buckets. There is a good portion of those folks who want to keep up with the Joneses. They have to have new stuff, expensive cars, clothes, etc. The cars part is a huge one. Getting into so much debt for a depreciating asset. Must have name brand clothes. I get it, i come from poverty. In the ghetto you show wealth to your peers with what you drive and wear. It's a terrible mentality that keeps the poverty cycle going.

[@tias.6675]

Then there's people who are simple and have families. True teachers (not indoctrinating imbeciles) deserve to be paid more. We're not even going to get on them having to deal with the !ll3galz flooding the b--order.

[@natsumitsushima]

I agree with professor’s opinion. He pointed out that a culture of long hours working remains in Japan. I’ve felt how you perform in your job define your status or even the worth as a human being in Japan.

[@Estelle_H]

I feel the exact same way about my job in the veterinary field. Soul sucking. Takes all and gives little

[@TheShellboy2]

This problem is so bad, because talented people tend to avoid becoming teacher even though they want to do so, becasue even before they try to get a job, they already know that working condition for teachers is quite terrible and exhausting. Thus, quality of the teachers in Japan might be lower than other OECD countries. The underlying issue is parents' too much dependent on schools for education or raising children. Parents in Japan tend to avoid facing children and leave education to the schools. So, this is not only the problem of schools and teachers but peoblems of the whole society.

[@TrangHuynh-hz9vb]

I know how it feel . I leave in canada 🇨🇦 I'm over work my self. This is crazy. So bad .sorry for your loss.

[@mademsoisellerhapsody]

Sorry for your loss❤

[@luvzfrance24]

Over work and stress are common themes found in Japan for students and workers from what I've seen. It just sounds like a horrible system.

[@SublimeThinker]

Teaching has a lot of hidden work. Especially administrative work. Nor to mention children need alot of supervision.

[@julioreija8052]

Teaching IS a sacred job, like parenting, with a responsibility load that goes from teaching how to focus and organise thoughts efficiently to socialisation, personal responsibility, respect for themselves with their good and difficult or bad characteristics. Teachers are also responsible for teaching by example and for not mistreating anybody in the slightest way, so they need to manage their emotions and calculate their responses and their every action and word -much more than those who work among adults. They are also responsible for correcting misbehaviour in a constructive manner, for teaching ethics and humanistic values, for playing with the kids while guiding them in the game, teaching how structures and rules work and how to respect them, for teaching teamwork, anti bullying, social media management, self-management in various human dimensions… They also teach multiple subjects that they need to keep refreshed and up-to-date and quickly accessible to their minds during school hours. And they spend hours and hours talking while projecting their voices like actors to an audience that gets noisy, bored, distracted, excited or worried or stressed or terrified about basic or crazy things… or, in the case of tweens and teens, that is energetically bananas half of the time, and anxious or depressed or simply in a blooming existential crisis during the other half. Oh, and they usually must prepare their lessons outside of their contractual working hours, without any pay for that time. Am I leaving something out…? Oh, yep: in most countries teachers are paid peanuts 🥜 And I think to myself… what a wonderful world 😂🤪 🤯 😭

[@freakinfrugal5268]

Teaching is a job. It is not sacred like parenting and all you describe should not be expected.

[@jenniferlynncalogero2100]

The scariest job about being a teacher, and being a teacher in child care and with having multiple disabilities is that you have parents ready to kick your butt and beat the garbage out of you and by yelling and screaming at you because, they refuse to own up with admiting to and taking responsibilities for their own actions. I had this happen to me with a woman who worked for the court system in Charlotte County, Florida. On the flip side, when in Miami, Florida a female teacher who worked for the Charter School in Downtown, Miami Florida who didn't know what she was doing and actually had a ligit teaching license, was abusing the children in my child's class. They ended up having to fire her because, the children/students and parents complained! Yet, with cameras in the schools, they didn't do anything until the children/student and parents started speaking up!

[@julioreija8052]

@@freakinfrugal5268 With all due respect, I think that it may be just a job when you are teaching adults, but when you are taking care of children is much more than that… and that is why most of the teachers in the world feel that they do their job in part as a call (of humanistic duty). Educators must educate, and educating is not teaching someone something they didn’t know before, but helping children to become people, people that didn’t exist before they were educated.

[@patb-d2264]

@@julioreija8052 Yes,but not at the cost of one's life.Parenting is a parent's job!

[@patb-d2264]

@ Julio Reija I read your piece again!I get the 'tongue in cheek' tone now! The bit about managing your emotions amongst outright rude and ill-mannered children-yeah! Any wonder in my culture the teacher's reward is deemed to be in the after death-Heaven!

[@Lic51]

stress can literally awaken cancer cells in the body that otherwise would be dormant

[@papaya8634]

So interesting what he has to say, I wish the show didn't have that pressure of time so they would let him speak as long as he wants.

[@joelgodoy5498]

We have a very similar problems here too in the Philippines. I work in a public school and there are lots of paper works at the same time over load and over time but still the compensation is not enough.

[@m.hadisoussi732]

You have to get out of your comfort zone (even if it is not the case) and start looking for another job without giving yourself excuses or getting worried a lot about your future. This is your life and you have to know how to manage it. 😊

[@maddwhissp7092]

Vietnåm and indïa working 24/7 with low salary for western manufacturing companies to japan: do you have days off?

[@maddwhissp7092]

.

[@parkgumstef5206]

True

[@josepharrr3712]

Exacto

[@bayersbluebayoubioweapon8477]

Copy pasta

[@svanimation8969]

Haha 😂

[@mayukhsrivastava3063]

i think "respect" has become a problem here. we respect people and then expect them to be like saints who have no needs, aspirations of their own and be devoted to their jobs. during covid, we praise the medical staff and then cut their salaries on the grounds of decline in revenues. teachers should be seen as mere professionals and this is what will make their lives better.

[@diamondgirll01]

America is Awesome, teachers should come to America to teach, its so much nicer then whats happening there.

[@rawdhakhadraoui5721]

I work for 38 hours a week as a freelance teacher and the amount of stress I have accumulated is unusual and makes me vulnerable despite the good pay. I choose not to get a job in the public sector because of the low wage and long hours but still being a teacher is a real mental challenge even when you are self-employed. The bottom line is teachers need to prioritize their mental health even the living conditions are unbearable.

[@GKP999]

Over achieving is just as bad as under achieving. People need to have a balanced lifestyle.

[@fanniterrette]

The interviewer asks if change in Japanese work culture is likely. This is answered with a long, truthful pause, followed by unsubstantiated, face-saving vacuousness: "It is going in the right direction. The government is taking serious action." It is then topped off with a fatal concession: "The long working hours culture might remain."

[@1979fsa]

Perfect. I think most people in the comments havent watched to that part.

[@Magdalena287]

The students commit suicide and the teachers are dying of exhaustion, when is enough enough? Its such a shame because people from Japan i've met here in america are so nice and happy, your people deserve more out of life than just studying and working

[@anonmouse15]

Probably just glad they escaped from that insanity, but America's not much better in that regard.

[@AldousC]

Actually, everyone in Japan is expected to work crazy hours. Office workers are not only expected to OT but also attend drinking bouts after work.

[@satyagun1]

"Overwork" could be the most direct reason for the falling birth rates in Japan.

[@wowJhil]

From the perspective of a Swede, I would say that the single most important thing that has had an impact on working condition in Sweden, not least for teachers, are the strong unions overall and early focus on work related health issues. The things that, comparably, are good in Sweden today is thanks to the many years of work laid down during many decades. Even though it's very likely, that Japan's culture also drives overwork into extreme, because of even more demands on teachers, it's also likely that the difference has much to do with rules and unions. Japan might have to catch up with this where it might not have been as noticeable earlier.

[@MykahCroom]

I work at public elementary schools in Japan. I was shocked when I found out that the homeroom teachers have to lead and teach the kids P.E. too.

[@Sky-pt6lc]

They should hire teacher assistants. To help with the work load. Another way for recent graduate teachers to get experience.

[@patb-d2264]

@skyGood suggestion!

[@Sky-pt6lc]

Maybe they could even hire senior citizens for part time. To help set up activities for the students. The extras that the teachers are forced to do.

[@shailendraakshinthala]

No work is a priority when it's about life.God please save humanity from the work force exploitation.

[@deckape714]

Great Guest, Thank you for the perspective Deutsche Welle

[@user-uu5jf3jo3o]

123 hours of overtime? In France, it is 35 hours a week and 140hrs a month. Many overwork, though (big firms, law practices, finance, hospital and care, etc.). But there are laws to catch up overtime and take days off or holidays. Some just get paid this overtime. But generally, the work pace is tight and people are very productive. They are more focused and do more in less time. Most don’t work on Saturdays and Sundays.

[@anitagubalane7510]

I can relate on this situation for Japanese teachers. I can also work with over time but underpaid my school. My mental health is critical affected and my physical health as well. 🙏😭

[@studlytheknight]

While I am not sure a few of my Japanese friends told me that there is a law that says that you must take 5 paid holiday days a year (not that you are given them but you have to use them) or the company gets fined if the government finds out (but I assume that public school teachers are exempt). The funny thing is that all of the people who told me this also said that they never take those five days and that they don't know any of their co workers that take those 5 days... So if this is true; the government might be doing something but if the people and the companies ignore it nothing productive will occur.

[@carolinewiggins2803]

Recently in Japan I've been hearing the phrase "Work / Life Balance more and more, certainly at the primary school level where I teach. I presume it's a nationwide effort to promote the concept and not just the policy of my local Board of Education. Teachers here are general dogsbodies. They don't just teach: they supervise and join in cleaning ; wax floors; maintain the school grounds; do paperwork; collect cash from pupils for various things; go in on certain Saturdays to sort out objects for recycling; join in early morning greetings brigades at the school gates; before Covid, form room teachers had to visit all their pupils' homes to talk with their parents; they answer the phone if no one else is there to do it in the staffroom (many schools have no office or dedicated office staff). Plus there is so much extra work because of school ceremonies where everything must be choreographed down to the smallest detail... I had teacher friends years ago who complained they had to paint walls!! I'm presently working with a specialist English teacher who's been roped in to plan the Graduation Ceremony in March even though it's not her job. She's always busy which means I never have a chance to talk with her much about the lessons or other important things.

[@humanbeing7624]

I work from home 20 hrs/week on average, I am really too lazy to exceed that, I feel like it's too much work if I go beyond 20hrs. I can't imagine working 80hrs.

[@happycook6737]

Same for teachers in the USA. Planning, instruction, school "volunteering", after school programs, duties, extras, continuing education requirements for teachers, etc. All for low wages which means I work summer job and weekends.

[@user-hc8co5xz4e]

As a teacher in Singapore, I was working about 90 hours a week.

[@RikkeGade]

😢

[@peterko8871]

They must work harder as they reject immigrants but they are getting much older. Or reduce the quality of life.

[@peterpanini96]

Quality of life is worst than europe they live in cardboxes...

[@rirri2386]

Why would any foreigner want to live there and deal with racism and hardship, there is a reason they are not having kids, because living there is not nice. Visiting is amazing though

[@teoleno4019]

But it happens in every homogeneous country. People will smile in your face and talk c*ap behind your beck.

[@lukmanaliyuyahaya]

I'm a teacher too, in Nigeria, we work for only 35 hours a week - and about half the time, we don't even go to class. I don't know whether it defines our underperformance or maybe the real problem lies in most of us not being very professional in our job. Though we don't earn much - mine is about $80/month and I'm the second highest paid staff in the school, but 80 to 120 hours a week is a death sentence. I hope their lives and health be given better consideration.

[@1POluoch]

80 dollars,how do you survive? In Kenya we pay between USd 300- 2000 based on school and experience

[@lukmanaliyuyahaya]

@@1POluoch as usual, we survive. Your system in Kenya is very good, I suppose

[@DannyGore]

I added this video to my ⚡ Channeled Playlist 🥰💕

[@yuvra649]

Society has got to respect teachers! Its long overdue. I come from a family with history of teaching. All my grandparents, their brothers/sisters/wives/husbands all were teachers. My mother pursued education being the eldest, the toll it took on her was too much. No one after followed it. Its sad to see this happen, it breaks my grandpa's heart for such a beautiful constructive to society profession to suffer.

[@drissaudia1323]

That is ridiculous. If they get paid well, than maybe it might compensate. Health and mental well-being should come first before children, work status etc. no work is worth your life! Japan’s culture will need to change as it’s not healthy for a country who’s suicidal rates are high to be ignoring this issue. People don’t need a another issue to take their own lives.

[@iddrisuzurikanen7435]

No amount of pay can compensate for a healthy life.

[@anonmouse15]

They will cease to exist if they don't change, due to low birth rates.

[@dia37355]

I would quit a job before I even get to the point of karoshi. People not quitting tells us that how hard it is to switch jobs and have a second chance. I am from Japan and I feel the pain. However, this social structure that is toxic needs to be changed from top to bottom.

[@djm2189]

Switching jobs isn't hard, it's the mentality over there that you "can't" and that it's not "respectful". Completely asinine.

[@dia37355]

@@djm2189 Yes There is still a stigma attached to switching jobs in a lifetime employment culture.

[@djm2189]

@@dia37355 sure but it's not the norm anymore. Watch HR documentaries where they now cater towards and ever changing workforce. Also you'll make significantly more money by swapping vs yearly raises. So it's a win to me. You can keep that respect and I'll keep the extra money. In 12 months I went from 75k to 100k and now 112k. My friend went from 77k to 100k. Rinse and repeat with others.

[@ruchiRocksta]

I am a teacher. But I am thinking of quitting this career due to overwork and less payment. It's a shame as I love kids.

[@haroldlipschitz9301]

Japanese work culture still has a long way to go. People feel immense social pressure not to protest or complain about the status quo too much. If they banded together more, they could reject the overzealous administration and expansion of duties. The usual cycle for many is work hard -> depression -> sleep deprivation -> severe mental illness. If they get help, they can take disability leave and then quit. People who care less about the social stigma simply quit when they start getting exhausted, but they are potentially putting their career at risk by doing so.

[@XG9769]

My friend is a high school teacher in Japan. She is not responsive to my emails/messages. She said she was always busy, but she is single without family duty. I did not understand why until now

[@ottomatamorro1510]

Karoshi is a dream come true for employers since they get maximun profit at maximun health cost to the workers.

[@mattbrown-mb]

Would be interested to know how much Japanese teachers are paid? As a lecturer in the UK we have a lot of demands upon us, but do not get paid anywhere near close to the level of work expected.

[@happycook6737]

Japanese teachers are paid a near poverty wage.

[@user-hf8nb9mb4e]

Parents give extra pressure. Crazy job to do for these terrible bullying students.

[@mbaker9861]

That’s very concerning and sad! New generations who get obsessed with self identity and addiction of work ( work more, collect more). Learn to to let go & to say “NO” if need to. Practice Zen!

[@BIPDSHAWAII]

Exhausted just watching this.

[@priyankarmajumder4152]

I have never seen or heard before where teachers are expected to do even maid's work of cleaning at school. And no, teachers should not 'overcare' for their students just because they're the second parents to them.

[@happycook6737]

I'm teaching in the USA. We have to clean our own classrooms because the janitors are "busy". Makes me angry!

[@priyankarmajumder4152]

@@happycook6737 that's sad. You are just getting exploited.

[@itsmedrico1735]

I live in Brazil, I work 40 hours a week and I wanna live well, I won't go to overwork and die young. Life is a equilibrium, if you don't know how to manage it, you'll have serious problems. So, if you overwork, you'll compromise your heath, and with no heath, you cannot do anything.

[@Wutwut1n1]

So sad to see the compulsive head nodding, blinking and other physical manifestations of stress and poor communication. People deserve better, even if they have a good job and nice environment 🙏

[@drunkdonutboy]

I became salaried a year ago, and it was good but bad in the sense that I didn't have a time to clock out so I just kept working

[@Luflandebrigade31]

The crazy thing is Japanese are well aware of their problems. They just don‘t change it because that is „how it was done before“. I know almost no country that is so resistant zu change.

[@krto7663]

Try a specific area of the planet where a holly book dictates how people that lives there must hate each other in perpetuity

[@thesoundsmith]

Try the American South...

[@thesoundsmith]

OK, Japan has been at it far longer, but the degree of enthusiasm/support/demand is about the same.

[@Luflandebrigade31]

@@thesoundsmith If you mean the south of the US, those are states and not a country and to be fair even those changed since the 1970.

[@FranFerioli]

As the professor said, work is a big part of a person identity in Japan. I think it is also makes up a large part of social interactions. I noticed similar trends in the US where there is little to do in suburbia a part your work (which was indeed very rewarding).

[@franceslock1662]

If anyone needs a strong Union it’s them.

[@Catata123]

This type of culture for teachers has a much wider reach than Japan and goes further than just the K-12 level of education. There's a reason that almost 50% of new teachers quit within their first 5 years, over 50% of teachers are currently thinking of leaving the profession sooner than planned and nearly all are experiencing burnout in America.

[@strech5412]

You missed the elephant - how can parents work over the Karoshi-line if they need to care for their kids? Answer - make the kids work longer than the parents. Which automatically makes teachers work longest of all.

[@sprachgefuhl9757]

This could be tha main point of the whole discussion.

[@julioreija8052]

Parents working excessive hours leads to malfunctions in their parenting, which help to create in their children traumas, low self esteem and other mental issues, which in their turn hurt the country in its health care services, its culture and its economy.

[@julioreija8052]

@@DavidGetling Of course, there has always been a lot of that: parental selfishness, unreadiness, childishness, unresolved traumas… …but I was talking about the structural things that we could change as a society. Also, I cannot keep my humanistic mind from thinking that those of us who act badly do so because we are effed up as children ourselves. You know: that «breaking the cycle» stuff.

[@anonmouse15]

Not really a concern, they just aren't having children in the first place.

[@vanbeet5105]

@@DavidGetling Quite harsh calling a parent who works 123 hours overtime a month lazy, innit?

[@vanbeet5105]

We live in a system where everyone is screwed by the top 1%! How lovely!

[@nataliaperez9954]

In Japan the community is what matters not the individual..it was nice getting to know the Japanese culture.

[@djm2189]

You're right but missing a point. The culture is mostly there because they do not allow people to mass migrate. Have you seen what's happened to the UK?!

[@nataliaperez9954]

@@djm2189 yeah I have seen the protest...

[@DarcNoodles]

every single person who isn't a CEO in Japan is at risk of death by overwork because while profits rise and prices rise, salaries haven't for 20 years. You work till you die or you starve/freeze/go homeless/ That is the Japanese way.

[@Pritha879]

Omg

[@budgetking2591]

Forced to do tons of overtime, and meanwhile the currency is becomming worthless, crazy.

[@ItchyKneeSon]

Before watching, I'm interested to see what's developed recently that would have teachers more vulnerable to overwork than previously. There's already a culture of overwork in which the goal, company, and collective group effort are more important than individual health. It took very little time to realize this after working at a 'traditional'-thinking small business in Japan. Teachers have a good social standing, but the demands on them, spoken or unspoken, are hefty. There are so many GREAT teachers that have something 'extra' that allows them to grind through the years. At least they're paid better than the public school teachers where I come from.

[@williamgary7891]

Sad 😢😭

[@carrut]

Over work for teachers is everywhere though. Paperwork, planning, exams, projects, etc.

[@gavinphoon7530]

Key words take away from this which i agree is cultures and identity in relation to our occupation differs from one locations to another

[@patb-d2264]

@Gavin and culture:The redeeming fact is culture is dynamic and so we can all learn to discontinue and adapt.A culture that overworks staff to death??How does one work so many hours?

[@gavinphoon7530]

@@patb-d2264 There is social cultures & organizational cultures, in this case its more of the social norms rather then organizational. Cultures are not built nor are they cast aside overnight, not forgetting the old guards with their beliefs and convictions that the old way is the best way.

[@patb-d2264]

@@gavinphoon7530 I totally agree about how ingrained in a society's fabric,culture is. So!Change or adaptation does not happen overnight but seeing the harmful effects of 'overwork',any little step towards 'change' or 'adaptation' will be a step in the right direction. ...and talking about 'the old guards/generation' or some such mention in your response,I am a Grandma to 4;from a different cultural orientation to my children&grans who have been brought up in the West so we constantly look atreview what I do,say vis-a-vis what they do and say. I understand veru well what you are saying: A change in cultural orientation does not come easy-not even in a household,let alone a whole country.... BUT,there is hope in the dynamic nature of culture.

[@saimandebbarma]

Poor souls 🤕🙏

[@nelsonccwoo]

Sad!

[@tumbletrav]

I've never heard this before now. As a American truck driver I work 80 hours of overtime a month. We're allowed 120 hours of overtime per month

[@budgetking2591]

Yeah, thats very different, teachers are not supposed to do so much overtime, for truckers its normal.

[@thenorthernspinozist397]

@@budgetking2591 And teachers are not paid for overtime either.

[@PistonAvatarGuy]

But you're just driving.

[@SheepofTheShepherd-nu3lz]

@@thenorthernspinozist397 truckers aren't really paid tat well for the overtime many local drivers do good, its the otr drivers that get shaft and as a CDL holder, its expensive to maintain one

[@heyhej1]

I think you're missing a point here...the problem lays within the Japanese Society. They're very traditional and not prone to changes in work environments. If you try to be different than the rest, the system will pin you back down where you belong.

[@888gratitude]

The professor does not have an excellent recommendation to resolve this karoshii trend in Japan. The most straightforward issue here is not working for long hours. It is how managers impose their uniform style of management in companies or organisations all across Japan - that is, management by fear. Workers should follow the senior at all times, or they will be reprimanded. There is no psychological safety at the workplace where you cannot question your manager or the rules or take the consequence of retaliation. Family and personal time are also sacrificed because many managers have no family or are unmarried and impose these dreaded long working hours on their downlines. That is the devastating culture that needs resolution. Again, it is not the long hours but how company owners and managers should treat their employees and understand that they have a life to live outside work. The leadership and management style in Japan needs overhauling.

[@marissaalonzo7997]

As a professional in the US at over $60K per year, overtime was expected at about 20 hours per month. At about $100K per year, I worked an average of 80 hours over per month. My health broke at 45 years of age and I had to medically retire at 53...almost died, permanently Disabled today.

[@bendikkirkbakk1833]

So bad, your health.i have it very different. I don't work at all. Almost never worked a Day in my life. 39 and lay in bed or doing what ever i want 😀.

[@krisa990]

I sincerily doubt you thought it was worth the money, the health risks you took by working that insane amount of hours overtime..probably never being properly reimbursed either just like the japanese workers..with 80 hours of overtime you basically qualify as a karoshi,luckily you did survive the work onslaught,but it does proves the point. There should be universal international laws against certain limits of overtime..

[@SatabdiKundu07]

Female 31, worked 55+ hrs for 2 yrs in a big Indian IT company(the pay was like penny). Left with PCOS and chronic constipation.

[@marissaalonzo7997]

@Kris A Agreed. And in the US, upper salary earners don't get the overtime as paid, it's just expected to remain competitive for the position. It's a terrible system...

[@kluivertbiggie3544]

@@bendikkirkbakk1833 and do you think it is a good life to live

[@enteng1984]

Singapore also has a "work till you die" culture. The expectation is that even if you are on sick leave, you should still be contactable.

[@caroleastmond9064]

Isn't this country reporting a population problem. Maybe, their government officials, should change the workweek hours, to give individuals more family time to have a family, and that would probably make for a happy healthy workforce, and a population increase in this beautiful country.

[@emeralddreams8440]

Teaching in UK is getting that way in leaps and bounds!! So many teachers quitting over here.