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Have you heard about what the Japanese call karōshi, death by overwork? What westerners call occupational sudden death typically results from heart attack or stroke due to stress and exhaustion. And the statistics from Japan are startling—from overwork, people are suffering death or breakdown while still in their 20s and 30s. Stereotypically, it has long been held that Japanese businesspeople show pride in their work and in their companies. It is common to hear stories of them working excessive hours to win the day or earn their keep. But, if the end of the day results in physical or mental breakdown, is the reality check worth paying? One fifteen-year-old Japanese exchange student I met found it interesting that I knew the ...