Japan's work ethic famously propelled it into a first world nation and the Japanese are known to work some of the longest hours in the world.

Ironically, it is among the least productive economies today and one that has remained stagnant for over two decades.

Washington-based journalist Yumi Araki heads back to her native home to find out why the Japanese work so hard. Along the way she meets everyone from overworked salarymen at their wits end and the therapists trying to keep them sane, to farmers obsessed with growing the perfect fruit and university students preparing for Japan's notorious job hunting season.