In my research, I examine the mental health and well-being of Japan’s workforce, focusing on societal and economic factors that contribute to the development of psychological disorders. A key area of my work is the study of karoshi (death from overwork) and karo jisatsu (suicide due to overwork), analyzing how excessive work hours and insufficient work-life balance compromise psychological stability, sometimes with fatal consequences. In a recent publication, I conducted a psychological assessment measuring depression, anxiety and stress levels of Japanese employees in various industries. Currently, I am investigating how technological advancements, including automation and artificial intelligence, contribute to occupational insecurity and its subsequent effects on mental well-being. By integrating methodologies and perspectives from psychology, economics, and Japanese studies, I aim to explore how emerging technologies will reshape workplace dynamics in Japan and influence employees’ psychological health, resilience, and long-term mental well-being.
Employment
2025 – Present Project Researcher, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo College
2022 – 2025 Researcher, Hashimoto Foundation, Societas Research Institute
Education
2021 B.Sc. Economics & Management; British & American Studies, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg
2020 M.A. Japanese Studies; South Asian Studies, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg
2016 B.A. Japanese Studies; Chinese Studies, Goethe-University Frankfurt
2013 – 2014 Rikkyo University
Journal Articles
(Peer-Reviewed) Holzapfel, N. (2025). A Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-42) Study on the Mental Health Conditions of Japanese Employees. Japanese Psychological Research. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpr.12587
Conference Presentations
Sakairi, E., Aikawa, M., & Holzapfel, N. (2024, May). International Comparison of Policies for Accepting Migrant Caregivers: Implications for Japan in Aiming for Longer Stays for Migrant Caregivers [Poster Presentation]. The 15th Asian Conference on the Social Sciences (ACSS 2024), Tokyo, Japan.
