Japanese employee burns down his workplace because he was 'stressed at work'
Reminder to take care of your mental health.
A part-time worker in Japan has reportedly burned down his place of work due to the burnout and stress of the job.
32-year-old Tatsuya Matsuzawa was captured by authorities after he set fire to the Ken Depot Soka Sezaki retail warehouse store in Soka, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Matuzawa had a dual role as a delivery and security department of the small store, although he found the tasks that came with the role too difficult.
He quit his job after one year and did the deed a week after. He committed the crime at 5:45 PM and while a number of customers were in the shop. One of his former workmates sustained injuries from the fire.
Speaking with investigators, Matuzawa reportedly said: "I was too stressed at work, so I set the store on fire."
In a June 14 report by Japan’s All-Nippon News Network (ANN) Channel, firefighters can be seen putting out the heavy fire for over 13 hours.
It was said that Matuzawa used a large amount of wood and toilets to set the fire, he also used a number of combustibles found in the store such as sprays and paint.
Japan has long faced stressful work hours and a straining burnout culture, with the Japanese phenomenon Karoshi translating to "overwork death." Japanese activists say some 10,000 workers in the country die from overwork on a yearly basis.
Matuzawa now faces charges of arson.