Compensation will be provided to the family of a young man who died working for a Tokyo publisher in 1997 in the nation's first recognized case of "karoshi" (death from overwork) for an employee under a flexible working system.

"We have decided to review the case before the (Tokyo District Court) renders a judgment, with a view to providing compensation to the bereaved family," said Tadaaki Sekioka, an official of the Tokyo Central Labor Standard Office.

Tatsuru Wakiyama died of a heart attack in July 1997 at the age of 24, having logged 3,200 hours of work in the year up to his death as an editor at Kobunsha K.K. In the six-month period before his death, he was working 80 hours of overtime a month.

Wakiyama's parents had sought compensation, but the labor court decided in May 2000 not to grant it, recognizing no link between his death and his work duties, because he was working under a flexible system under which hours and other conditions are left to the worker.

The parents subsequently filed a suit with the Tokyo District Court to revoke the labor office's decision.

On Tuesday, the Tokyo labor office told Wakiyama's parents of the decision to grant compensation.

The change of heart follows the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry's move in December to expand criteria for recognizing karoshi, he said.

A national council of lawyers representing karoshi claims said this is the first time it has been recognized in compensation for an employee under a flexible work system.

Wakiyama's parents have also filed a separate damages suit against Kobunsha, seeking around 168 million yen in compensation.