Chiharu Kurayama, a teacher at Shimoda Elementary School in Tokyo’s Ota ward, faces extensive work hours well beyond official limits, ending her days after 8 pm despite scheduled hours from 8 am to 4:30 pm. She manages various subjects, oversees special needs education, handles administrative tasks, and addresses parental concerns, including bullying issues weekly. Despite efforts to alleviate workload, such as halting Wednesday afternoon classes, teachers like Kurayama continue to struggle with excessive duties amid nationwide concerns over public school staffing shortages and mental health impacts on educators.
