Business Jul 29, 2017
Unpopular 'Premium Friday' campaign in danger of fizzling out
Japan’s “Premium Friday” campaign isn’t getting many people to leave work early and play, leading some to question its economic worth six months after its debut.
Business / Economy | FOCUS Apr 7, 2017
Stakes are high as Abe looks to labor reform in bid to boost economy
by Noriyuki Suzuki
As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushes for labor reforms, hopes are growing that it may alter the country's deep-rooted culture of overwork and nudge more workers toward striking the right work-life balance. The recent start of Premium Friday, an initiative led by the government and ...
Business Mar 4, 2017
'Premium Friday' campaign draws little attention in Tokyo
Only 3.7 percent of Tokyo area employees left work early last month to mark the launch of the "Premium Friday" quit work early campaign on Feb. 24, an online survey says. The public-private initiative is designed to prod people to leave the office at ...
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Feb 25, 2017
Premium Friday is not about taking a holiday
by Philip Brasor
The anonymous writer of Asahi Shimbun's finance-related Keizai Kishodai column pointed out in the Feb. 18 edition that Japanese people only think of time off on a day-by-day basis, whereas Europeans tend to conceptualize it in week-long blocks, as "vacations."
National Feb 24, 2017
'Premium Friday' drive kicks off to energize weary workers, feeble economy
by Reiji Yoshida
The government-backed "Premium Friday" campaign kicked off on Friday with around 130 participating firms across the country encouraging employees to leave work early on the last Friday of each month. The government launched the initiative to boost weak consumer spending as it struggles to halt ...
National Feb 23, 2017
Variety of discounts, perks in works for 'Premium Friday' launch
by Magdalena Osumi
Starting Friday, many workers in Japan, notorious for its culture of overwork, will have a chance to start the weekend early, albeit once a month, for a trip to an onsen (hot springs), a shopping spree or simply dining out with family and friends. The ...
National Jan 2, 2017
Premium Friday campaign seeks to curb Japan's long work hours
The country that coined the word karoshi (death by overwork) wants companies to let workers finish early on the last Friday of every month so that they can go out and have fun.
National Oct 18, 2016
Government, Keidanren plan 'Premium Friday' campaign to boost consumption
The government and the Keidanren business lobby plan to launch a "Premium Friday" campaign to perk up sluggish domestic consumption, according to informed sources. The campaign will call on people to finish work early on the last Friday of each month to shop, dine out ...