New law could worsen Japan's long working hours

Tokyo

JAPAN'S push to take away overtime from high-paid workers has critics warning that it will aggravate a problem synonymous with the country's notoriously long working hours - karoshi, or death from overwork.

Teruyuki Yamashita knows the risks all too well. The now 53-year-old worked day and night in a senior sales job, made countless overseas business trips, and slept an average of just three hours a night.