Pixel art video chronicles 100 years of Japanese work culture

A two-minute pixel art video titled '100 Years of Work in Japan' produced by Japanese HR company SmartHR traces the evolution of labor in Japan from 1920 to the present. Directed by Motocross Saito with music by HIMI, the video uses 15 scenes to depict key moments: the introduction of the salaryman in 1920, wartime commuting, 1950s economic growth, futuristic transport, 1980s 'corporate warriors' obsessed with productivity, karaoke and Friday drinking, the rise of always-on technology, and finally the shift toward smart working and family welfare, including an image of a mother working from home while her partner cares for their child. The release coincides with the Japanese government's recent annual economic plan encouraging companies to adopt a four-day workweek, signaling a potential shift away from the intense work culture that has led to karoshi (death from overwork). A dedicated website explains each scene in detail.