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Precis: " Workaholism: It's Not In The Blood" (1995) by Tetsurō Katō

In Kato’s article, “Workaholism: It’s Not In The Blood” (1995), he argues that the notion of a hardworking Japanese society is not at all supported by historical facts but by an ideology adapted after the second world war when the country had to increase the working hours of its people in order not to be left behind by the ever changing world and its growing nation leaders. This created a burden to the modern Japanese worker who was taught and expected to display the same devotion as their ancient samurai counterpart, thus leading to incidents of karoshi (death from overwork). Kato explores his argument into smaller divisions that detailed the historical accounts of facts as well as the transition of work-attitude adopted by the working public. This article is meant to be read by students or researchers of behavioural changes and sociology with the way the statistical facts were handled and explained. At the same time, this article serves as a counterargument to presumed stereotypes of the working Japanese public and industry.

(November 04, 2015)

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