What is killing people's work ethic in your opinion then?

How is that person in Japan paid? Are they able to live comfortably and not have to worry about whether they are going to be bankrupted by an unexpected medical problem or bill?

From my perspective, A major problem in the west is that it has become unaffordable for so many people and they are always stressed about money which permeates into the rest of their life. If you are always on the precipice of being homeless it is understandable why they are stressed and able to be exploited by predatory companies working them to the bone.