This is a photo of Takahashi Matsuri, who took her own life on Christmas Day of 2015 when she was 24 years old.

Her death was recognized as “karoshi,” or death from overwork.

Her mother Takahashi Yukimi held a press conference in Tokyo on December 24.

But as she began to speak...

S/ Takahashi Yukimi, Mother of “karoshi” victim / I’m sorry. This is the 10th Christmas without Matsuri. On December 25, 2015, the morning of Christmas Day, Matsuri ended life at just 24 years old. Ten long years have passed since that day. No matter how many seasons pass, my time remains frozen on that day. No matter how much time passes, Matsuri is my precious and dear daughter. Her bubbly smiles, her warmth as she hugged me and told me she loves me, the time we climbed Mt. Fuji together. She took me out to dinner saying she wants me to stay healthy. I never imagined that 10 days later, I would have to go see my daughter who had turned cold.

Matsuri had joined major advertisement agency Dentsu that year.

Her mother said there was a time when her daughter worked 47 hours straight and then returned to the office 40 minutes later.

Around that time, Matsuri shared her thoughts on social media.

S/ I'm starting to wonder what I'm even living for.

She passed away a week after posting this.

Her suicide was recognized as a work-related incident caused by long working hours.

Dentsu was convicted of violating the labor standards law, an event that served as a catalyst for advancing work style reform.

Yukimi visited her daughter’s grave in November.

Matsuri’s former colleagues and supervisors from Dentsu still come here to pay their respects and write messages in a notebook.

S/ Takahashi Yukimi, Mother of “karoshi” victim / They say things have improved thanks to Matsuri, but...

Long working hours remain a problem in Japan.

During last fiscal year, there were 159 karoshi-related cases, including suicide and attempts, exceeding the number from the previous year.

Yukimi says she feels there have been no changes in Japan on the matter.

She expressed her feelings on the eve of the 10th anniversary of Matsuri’s death.

S/ Takahashi Yukimi, Mother of “karoshi” victim / Why is there labor shortage? Why do we have long working hours? How can we create workplaces where people can work in a healthy manner? I want the entire country to carefully examine the structure of work styles and move forward with countermeasures. Work must not take people’s lives. This simple idea is something that Japan must have recognized through Matsuri’s death. On the occasion of 10 years since her death, I express my strong wish once again that there will not be more victims of karoshi like Matsuri.