Sushiro's upcoming two-day closure is more of what Japan needs

If you have lived in Japan for any amount of time, you have probably heard of the concept of karoshi, otherwise known as death by overwork. There are numerous examples of it if you search online, but the work culture here often leaves a bit to be desired.

That’s why I was genuinely heartened to see a recent press release from Sushiro, noting that all 651 of their stores will close for two full days this May (13th and 14th) to give employees time to rest. Not for maintenance, not for training, but for the sole purpose of creating a more comfortable working environment for their people.

I'll always support a business that looks after its employees, and I think it's fantastic that Sushiro is continuing this initiative.

This is the seventh year they’ve done this, and the fact that it's a continuing thing speaks volumes. It's not a PR stunt. It's a clear choice they're making to value humans over hustle. Employees, their families, even part-timers all get to step off the treadmill together, at least for a moment.

It disrupts the customer experience slightly, sure...but it also disrupts the notion that constant availability equals good business. As someone who’s worked jobs in the past where days off felt like luxuries, I can't help but cheer this on.

Have you heard of any other companies taking initiatives like this one from Sushiro?