Olympic Stadium worker’s suicide to recognized as overwork-related

October 10, 2017

TOKYO- Japanese labor standards authorities have recognized that the suicide of a male construction worker engaged in a national stadium project in Tokyo was induced by long work hours, a lawyer for his family said Tuesday.

Tokyo's Shinjuku Labor Standards Inspection Office made the decision Friday, only less than three months after the bereaved family of the 23-year-old man filed for the recognition.

The man killed himself in March. He was an employee of a subcontractor taking part in the project to build the National Stadium, which will be the main venue of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

The speedy decision "reflects authorities' consideration of the social impact of the case and is meaningful," the lawyer, Hiroshi Kawahito, told a press conference.

"We strongly urge the prime contractor, the Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee, the Tokyo metropolitan government and other parties concerned not to repeat such a tragedy," Kawahito said.

According to the lawyer, the worker joined the subcontractor, Sanshin Corp. in April 2016. He had been involved in ground-improving work at the construction site since December. Jiji Press