People in Japan are famous for working hard. The Japanese language even has a word for literally working oneself to death! Are Japanese people working too hard? And would a four-day work week help?

The idea has been slow to catch on. Out of every 100 companies in Japan, only about eight allow employees to take three or more days off per week. Seven give workers only one day off.

Lawmakers want workers to labor for fewer hours. They want workers to get paid vacation each year and to work less overtime.

But even employees who have an option to work only four days often don’t. Take workers at Panasonic Holdings Corporation for example. Out of 63,000 workers, only 150 have decided to take a four-day schedule. 

Why? It’s partly because new rules don’t change how people feel about work. In Japan, it’s a popular belief that people should sacrifice for their companies. When people do take time off, most take vacation around specific holidays. That’s so co-workers can’t accuse them of being neglectful. Peer pressure in Japan says work, work, work! 

Long hours are the norm. Hence the word karoshi. It means “death from overwork.” Japan has at least 54 such deaths each year. Some people have heart attacks or strokes caused by the stress of their jobs. 

The pressure to work, work, work likely prevents some people from taking time to have families. Fewer babies are born. Right now Japan has too few workers. People guess the working age population will shrink by 20 million people in about 40 years.

Some say the three-days-off model will help. With fewer work days, it will be easier to raise kids. It will also be easier to care for older relatives. Maybe retirees looking for extra money will work for more years. 

Kanako Ogino is the president of a company in Tokyo. Her company offers 30 different scheduling patterns. This includes a four-day workweek and the option to take off long periods in between work.

Ms. Ogino asks each of her 4,000 employees twice per year how they want to work. “The view in Japan was: You are cool the more hours you work, putting in free overtime,” Ms. Ogino says with a laugh. “But there is no dream in such a life.”

 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. — Matthew 11:28