Japan’s buzzword award for Takaichi infuriates overwork victims’ kin: ‘biggest insult’
A family member said honouring Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ‘seems to praise a workstyle that can take someone’s life’
Noriko Nakahara, who lost her paediatrician husband to overwork and co-heads a group of karoshi victims, said she was “stunned” when she learned that the prime minister had won the award.
“It came as the biggest insult to the bereaved families, and we were deeply hurt,” Nakahara said at a press conference.
Takaichi, who became the country’s first female prime minister after repeated attempts, also said, “I will have everyone work like a workhorse.”
Hearing those words, Nakahara said she was reminded of her late husband, who said, “I will be killed by the hospital as it makes me work like a workhorse.” “I trembled with rage,” she said.