'Karoshi' culture is a global issue: Takarazuka Revue apologises as ‘overwork’ is the cause of actress’s suicide

Japanese all-female theatre company, Takarazuka Revue, have expressed responsibility for the death of a 25-year-old actress, believed to be a result of overwork. There was an acute staff shortage in the company too. Japan’s work culture has always been harsh and there was a saying that people there work to death. According to BBC reports, the actress who committed suicide remained unamend at the request of her family due to the stigma attached with suicide in Japan. The prestigious all-female theatre company took the responsibility on them for the suicide of the actress and admitted that it was overwork that caused her death. She was found dead in her condominium in Takarazuka on 30 September. Police said she died of suspected suicide. It is a known thing that the work pressure not only this particular theatre company, but overall too the pressure is high and there are many in the past who have committed suicide or were found dead on the way to work. As for this particular theatre company, it has been said that there is severe competition to join them. Executives from Takarazuka Revue apologised for “loss of life” but did not announce a compensation package for the 25-year-old’s family. Chairman Kenshi Koba also said he was stepping down. The family is currently suing the company for compensation, alleging that the actress faced excessive working hours which included bullying by seniors. This affected her mental and physical health. The family’s lawyer stated that she was under an outsourcing contract, with her overtime reportedly exceeding 277 hours a month. Takarazuka Revue disputes this figure, putting it at 118 hours a month. “It is undeniable that a strong psychological burden was placed on [the woman], and we did not sufficiently fulfil our duty of care for her safety,” Mr Koba told a news conference at the revue’s base in the western city of Takarazuka. Addressing relatives, he said: “We deeply apologise for not being able to protect a precious member of your family.” Regarding the family’s request for compensation, Mr Koba said: “I want to make sure we apologise and compensate them. “Unfortunately, we have not had the opportunity yet,” public broadcaster NHK reported him saying. The reports further say that the chairman and two other executives promised new measures to ensure nothing similar happened in future. It plans to reduce the number of weekly performances from nine to eight. How Japan’s _Karoshi_ (overwork) culture is a global issue now? Karoshi culture or overwork death is common thing in Japan. And now the suicide case in the all- woman theatre company can be a wake-up call for all working professionals globally. Japan has grappled with the problem of people overworking themselves to death. Now, it’s a global issue too which shouldn’t be ignored at any cost. According to the wired reports, in the 1990s, stories of mostly middle-aged businessmen working so many hours that they would drop dead from a bodily failure, or opt to end their lives rather than return to the office, were received outside Japan as a peculiar cultural phenomenon. It has been just too long that the risk of work to death has been overlooked. But, now it’s time for all of us to pause and think!