TIL about karoshi, or “death from overwork”. With that kind of culture, no wonder Japanese population is in decline. Why have kids if you are expected to work 12, 14, 16 hours a day? Who is going to nurture those kids?

Though such toxic workplace culture still exists, it has changed significantly over the past two decades. The decline in population is a complex issue, and "time expected at work" is one of many factors contributing to it.