Death due to Overwork (Karoshi ) Causation, health service, and life expectancy of Japanese males

As a member in the Expert Study Committee of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (MHLW), which conducted a large-scale review of literatures as well as medical evaluations, the author (Araki), together with his co-author, summarized the rulings of the Supreme Court on karoshi (death due to overwork), the statutory revision of the standard recognizing labour accidents, the effects of overwork on the onset of brain and heart diseases, and a comprehensive industrial health service that prevents karoshi. We suggested that the mortality rate and life expectancy of Japanese males can be improved by such preventive measures as well as by promoting pathophysiological, clinical and socio-medical studies.