A devastating case has emerged from Oita Prefecture, Japan, where a 38-year-old store manager at a 7-Eleven convenience store took his own life three years ago.
Recent investigations revealed that his death was officially recognized as a work-related accident due to extreme working conditions, including no days off for six straight months. This heartbreaking story was uncovered through interviews with the man’s family lawyer.
According to the lawyer representing the family, the deceased was employed by the owner of a 7-Eleven franchise store in Oita, which operates under a contract with 7-Eleven’s headquarters. The man had been the store manager since January six years ago and tragically ended his life in July three years ago.
The local labor standards inspection office determined that the man developed severe depression just before his death. They found that in the six months leading up to his illness, he had not taken a single day off. Last November, this led to the official recognition of his death as a work-related accident, or “karoshi” (death from overwork).
The store owner argued that other personal issues, not just overwork, might have contributed to the tragedy. However, the labor office could not verify these claims and concluded that the lack of rest—due to filling shifts and ensuring the 24-hour store ran smoothly—created an immense psychological burden, making it a clear case of work-related stress.
The man’s wife shared her grief, saying, “From the time we got married until his death, which was about one year and four months, he never had a single day off. If the owner is allowed to use the ‘7-Eleven’ name, the headquarters should take responsibility for how employees are treated.” The lawyer added, “Six months of continuous work without a break is unusually long for a work-related accident certification. The headquarters should have checked if such long hours were happening.”
In response, 7-Eleven Japan issued a statement: “We offer our deepest condolences to the employee of our franchise store and their family. While labor management is primarily the responsibility of franchise owners under our contract, we recognize its importance. Following this incident, we are committed to strengthening support for franchisees’ labor management and working hard to prevent such tragic events in the future.”
This case has raised serious questions about working conditions at franchise stores in Japan, especially for those operating under major brands like 7-Eleven. For readers worldwide interested in Japanese culture and labor issues, this story highlights the ongoing challenges of overwork and the need for better protections for employees in the retail sector.
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