First Japan locality to implement four-day workweek

Governor Yoshihiro Murai announced the initiative, which will apply to all prefectural employees, as a response to a declining number of applicants for government jobs.

Speaking at a press conference last week, Murai said the program is intended to create a more comfortable working environment to combat this trend, Fuji News Network reported.

The drop in applications is attributed to Japan’s declining birthrate and population. The new work schedule is designed to counteract these challenges by offering employees a better work-life balance and, in turn, appealing to more job seekers.

Miyagi prefectural employees currently adhere to a 38-hour, 45-minute workweek, working 7 hours and 45 minutes daily from Monday to Friday.

Under the new plan, employees will be able to redistribute their work hours over four days, allowing for a three-day weekend, subject to supervisor approval, as reported by The Japan Times.

"I want people to view Miyagi Prefecture as an exceptional workplace that evolves with the times and as an attractive place to work," Murai told reporters.

This option was previously available only to employees with child care or elderly care responsibilities, but starting in fiscal year 2026, it will be expanded to all government employees in Miyagi.

The Japanese government has expressed support for a shorter working week since 2021, before launching a campaign last August calling for more people and businesses to adopt the four-day workweek in an effort to address its labor shortage, AP reported.

Certain regions in Japan are adopting the initiative.

Ibaraki Prefecture introduced a selective four-day workweek for employees in April, excluding teachers and shift workers, to accommodate child care, elder care, and re-skilling needs.

In May, the city of Kuji in Iwate Prefecture began a trial four-day workweek, planning full implementation by 2025 after seeing nearly a 50% drop in applicants for the 2023 recruitment exams compared to the previous year.

In June, Chiba Prefecture extended its four-day workweek option to all employees within the governor’s office, with its personnel division expressing hope that the policy would "enable diverse lifestyles."