Jun 23, 2004
Hikikomori (Reclusive shut-ins)
Hikikomori are young people (estimated at 1 million) who withdraw from society completely, shutting themselves in their rooms and refusing to venture outside at all.
Japanese culture has traditionally glamorized solitude, and many young people find the pressure of academic and social expectations too much to cope with.
Japanese families are much more willing to financially support their children, but less willing to shake them back into reality.
- Hikikomori (Wikipedia)
- ‘Japan: The Missing Million’ (BBC News)
- ‘Japan’s Lost Generation’ (TIMEasia)
- ‘Hikikomori violence’ (BBC News)
- ‘Shutting Themselves In’ (NY Times)
- ‘Japan’s secret epidemic’ (Aljazeera)
4 Comments, Comment or Ping
Earl H. Kinmonth
The figure of 1 million hikikomori was made up by a publicity seeking shrink. It has no basis whatsoever in fact.
EHK
Apr 28th, 2008
Nanashisan
Publicity-seeking shrink. xD Although I’ve heard that it was to call attention to the seriousness of the matter, not Saitou-sensei himself, that figure was definitely made up; he admitted it in his biography. He said it was based on the number of schizophrenics in Japan.
Anyway, those articles are ridiculously biased. Of course there are plenty who are as described, by far most hikikomori leave their houses every so often, if not on a regular basis. They just don’t do anything social, although they can online; 2-channel is milling with them.
Jul 15th, 2008
Tyciol
I think Welcome to the NHK and Zetsubou Sensei are anime which have given a refreshing perspective on the Hikikomori.
Nov 8th, 2008
SAK
To say reality is inaccurate. Rather a different part of reality or a more real reality.
Jun 11th, 2009
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