In Japan, workers are so used to working punishingly long hours that dying from overwork is a common phenomenon: so common, in fact, that victim families can and do routinely apply for worker compensation benefits. We hear the stories of Japanese workers caught up in a system of overwork, young activists trying to change things on the ground, and a professor trying to make sense of it all. Is it just a Japanese phenomenon? What can Americans learn from a culture of overwork? This episode is brought to you by Constant Contact. For a free trial, sign up today at constantcontact.com/lifelab.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices