Hikikomori: A Path Forward for Japan’s Recluses?

hikikomori
Why does Japan drive some to remain secluded their entire lives? A look at Japan's hikikomori and how some are working to help them.

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In Japan, there is a strong focus on social status and career success. And there is an equal amount of pressure and intimidation on how exactly to meet these overwhelming expectations. How do people cope? For one class of people – Japan’s hikikomori (引きこもり, “shut-ins”) – the answer is by withdrawing from society completely.

The Shut-In Phenomenon of Japan

According to a survey released by the government of Japan, nearly half a million young people have withdrawn from society. The hikikomori lead reclusive lives, spent predominantly in their own bedroom in their family’s home.

Japan’s Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry define hikikomori as those who “have not left their homes or interacted with others for at least six months.” It surfaced as a phenomenon in Japan between the mid-1980s to 1990s. The phenomenon affects mostly young men in their 20s. Subjects lock themselves away from the outside world to focus on their own activities. This can include playing games, reading comics, and other escapes from the troubles of the outside world.

In most cases, this is not just a temporary condition or a passing phase. Hikikomori outright refuse to go to work and school. In general, they cease all social activity with anyone outside of their family. In some extreme cases, some don’t even talk to their own family, and may never even leave their rooms. Some ask their parents to bring a tray of food and leave it outside their door. They have little interaction even with family.

Social Pressure

Experts believe the condition builds up from pressure felt as early as junior high school. Society defines success largely by outside influences, such as parents and teachers. Withdrawing and becoming a hikikomori is, in a way, a resistance to that pressure. It’s their own voluntary way of protecting themselves from what they see as inevitable failure and social exclusion.

As of 2015, the Japanese census reported an estimated 541,000 people between age 15 and 39 who fit that description [1]. About 29% live in isolation for three to five years, and about 34% at seven or more. Experts estimate that approximately 1.55 million people are on the verge of becoming hikikomori. (This data can be inaccurate, however. It’s difficult to account for every person in this situation as many choose to remain completely unnoticed. Additionally, families of hikikomori may not report due to the associated shame).

Who Becomes a Hikikomori?

The stresses that make people decide to withdraw don’t discriminate. They can affect any single person. However, specialists have observed social withdrawal most commonly in young-to-middle-aged, middle-class men. (Though the average age is rapidly increasing, as I’ll discuss further). As such, many people think of it as a “middle-class problem”. Because hikikomori don’t leave their home, they usually have no source of income. Relying on one’s parents is difficult if not impossible to do in a family without means.

With the recent developments in technology, more people can work remotely and online. (This is especially true in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.) Thus, it’s not impossible to find hikikomori who live on their own and support themselves via online work. However, they’re still the minority. Hikikomori are generally unemployed and greatly rely on the income of their families.

Why Do Hikikomori Withdraw?

Woman shut up in her room
While most hikikomori are traditionally men, the lifestyle pattern is spreading to women as well. (Picture: Graphs / PIXTA(ピクスタ))

There’s no single reason why people decide to withdraw completely from society. However, there are common factors. Some withdraw because they have trouble handling the pressure of school and/or work. Still others feel inadequate against the expectations of society; they just don’t know what to do with their lives in order to “fit in”. Still others suffer from the trauma of very specific events such as a failure at school or work, tragedy, or heartbreak. This leads to depression, which makes them unable to cope with daily life anymore.

Many hikikomori experience a deep sense of shame. They feel they can’t work at a job, maintain good grades, or hold regular friendships and relationships like “ordinary” people. This causes them to feel both worthless and hopeless. Additionally, they may feel regret and shame for failing to live up to their parents’ expectations.

No Choice

At the same time, people don’t necessarily withdraw because they dislike or don’t want to engage with society. Rather, it is often because they feel they no longer have a choice but to withdraw. Many of them internally wish to be able to interact and go out into the world again. However, their inhibitions and internal conflicts hold them back. This leads to a seemingly endless cycle of wanting to go out, but never actually doing so. The fear of what could happen if they do is too strong.

These fears can be as extreme as paranoia, as mild as a general fear of failure. They may also be about just not wanting to be seen by people due to a lack of self-confidence. Some may dismiss such fears as trivial. But to the person facing them, they are very real and often frightening things.

Tamaki Saito, a leading researcher in the lives of hikikomori, said: “They are tormented in their heads. They want to go out in the world, they want to make friends or lovers, but they can’t.”

Societal Expectations

Another factor is society’s strict views that dictate what a person “should” do. Go to graduate school, work at a company, marry and have children, etc. But that can’t be everybody’s dream. Many Japanese just grin and bear it for the sake of their social status and image. But there are some who can’t tolerate how much control society seemingly has over the direction of their lives.

Many people become shut-ins because they have something they want to do but feel like they can’t [2]. Rather than give up their dream in order to live someone else’s, they retreat and pursue their own passions. This is probably one reason why many hikikomori are skilled manga artists.

Reasons for Withdrawal

One article sums up 9 of the most common reasons given to why a person may withdraw from society[3]:

  1. Home environment: A too strict or too neglectful upbringing can make it difficult for a child to learn how to “fit in” to society at a young age. This causes struggles as they grow older in interpersonal relationships, leading to anxiety that pushes them to prefer staying home.
  2. Outside environment: A harsh outside environment, including but not limited to bullying, difficulty at school and work, and trouble with friendships and relationships. This can lead to anxiety, fear of failure, etc., forcing a person to choose to withdraw to the home where they feel safe.
  3. Personal conditions: Personal conditions such as depression, social anxiety, self-confidence issues, and game addictions.
  4. Personality traits: People who tend to be shy, nervous, anxious, or feel “weak” may not feel like they fit into a society that demands they be strong, focused, and successful.
  5. Lack of options: Feeling too confined within the expectations of family/society. They feel they have no choice but to conform or cut off – and opt for the latter.
  6. Failure: Some may have already experienced a difficult failure in the past. Afraid of repeating that failure, they withdraw.
  7. Psychological issues: Some issues that may seem trivial to others but carry great weight for them, usually for personal reasons. Some choose to withdraw because “the world will never understand” the issues they face. The build-up of “small” issues can itself cause serious depression.
  8. Convenience: Some suffer from severe lethargy. Having no real motivation or energy to leave home, they end up living there indefinitely. Some may stay shut-in during the day but go out late at night, when they feel others can’t see them.
  9. No reason at all: Sometimes these feelings, just like depression, seem to hit for no identifiable reason at all. Some may unintentionally develop the habit of staying indoors so much to the point that it begins to feel irreversible. They feel they can’t change, despite never intending to shut-in in the first place.

The 80-50 Problem

Originally, people saw hikikomori as a problem affecting youth – for example, students and recent graduates. However, as time passes, hikikomori is becoming less of a youth problem. A recurring term in the media to show this age range is the “80-50 problem”. This refers to those hikikomori, now in or around their 50s, whose only means of support are their parents, who are in or around their 80s.

As the hikikomori and their parents age, their ability to function – and for their parents to support them – diminishes rapidly. Parents, now retired and unable to work, only receive a pension. Yet they must still provide for their 50-year-old adult children. Some label the hikikomori in this age group as “pension parasites” for this reason.

Parental Mortality

And the greater issue is of course the mortality of those supporting parents. In most ordinary Japanese families, it is common for middle-aged children to become the caretakers of their aging parents. However, in this case, aging parents are left with nobody to take care of them in their later years. When it comes time for the elderly parent to pass away, that leaves many newer and greater issues. The hikikomori now loses all support.

Many hikikomori have no way to get back into society. Most of them, having never married and had kids of their own, are now completely alone. In severe cases, when the parent dies at home, they may not know how to handle or care for them. Unsure where to turn, sometimes just leave the body of the deceased lying in bed to rot. There have been tragic, extreme cases[4] in which the child, unable to handle the death of the parent and not knowing what to do, wastes away side by side with the parent’s corpse. Eventually, both pass, and the bodies are discovered by the police due to reports from neighbors of the horrible smell.

More Than A Personal Issue

Rent-a-sister: Coaxing Japan’s hikikomori men out of their bedrooms – BBC News

At least half a million young men in Japan are thought to have withdrawn from society, and refuse to leave their bedrooms. They’re known as hikikomori. Their families often don’t know what to do, but one organisation is offering ‘sisters for hire’ to help coax these young men out of their isolation.

A recent report from the BBC (in English) on a “rent-a-sister” service (レンタルお姉さん), where families of hikikomori children hire women to befriend them and encourage them to leave their apartments.

One might wonder why an individual’s personal choice to withdraw from society is any of our business. Why should we worry about what others do with their time? But there are good reasons experts are concerned. Let’s look at what issues typically arise from the hikikomori phenomenon, both personal and societal.

Personal Issues

First and foremost, there are many reasons why withdrawal is a greater personal issue than simply the lack of socializing. Overdependence on parents, especially as parents age and the child no longer has the means to support themselves, is one.

Yet another is physical health. A reclusive lifestyle doesn’t leave much room for exercise, healthy habits, and fresh air. It’s quite common for hikikomori to become ill and unfit. Many are sedentary and only eat either whatever their parents leave at the door. Often these are quick foods like instant noodles and convenience store meals. Lack of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, such as vitamin D and C, also result in poor immunity. This leaves them more susceptible to catching colds and other illnesses. When they do get ill, many aren’t willing to leave home to see a doctor. So their conditions grow worse or take an excessively long time to heal.

Another is mental health. Lack of social interaction results in not just extreme dependency, but other forms of mental illness. These can include depression, anxiety, paranoia, and even schizophrenia. Severe reactions can be triggered by the slightest offset – such as having to change their routine or go outside.

Family Stress

Lastly are personal issues faced by the family members who are responsible for caring for that “child,” usually the parents. Stress-related issues, including but not limited to depression, are common amongst caretakers. Financial burden is another. The aging parents spend both their income and – later – their pension to support their kid. About 76% of families of hikikomori claim to provide financial assistance to the child. About 25% of those report it as a heavy financial burden.

Eventually, these parents reach the point that they are no longer able to care for themselves due to old age. But their child also can’t care for them. Many fall ill and pass away, some prematurely due to lack of proper care and stress.

Social/Economic Issues

Social withdrawal also impacts the outside world. The growth of the hikikomori population affects more than just the individual and their family, but society as a whole.

So many otherwise young, capable people opting out of the workforce puts a heavy burden on the economy. That contributes to a tighter labor market. (Many Japanese industries are currently struggling with labor shortages across the board.) It also increases the number of people relying on government assistance.

As Professor Jeff Kingston of BBC said: “Japan already faces an aging population and massive labor market shortages. There are about one and a half job vacancies per applicant in Japan, the government reported in September— the highest for more than 40 years.”

Finally, there is also the issue’s contribution to yet another grave issue, namely that of the declining birth rate. Japan is already experiencing all-time low birth rates. That’s sparked concerns about the future of the Japanese population. Having so many young people withdraw from society and choose not to marry or have kids doesn’t help. Rather, it may push the decline along further.

Social Stigma Associated With Seeking Help

It also doesn’t help that mental health and mental illness are stigmatized in Japan. This makes it hard, if not impossible, for hikikomori to get the help they need to heal. There are likely many hikikomori who would otherwise be able to get help were it not for this stigma.

Hikikomori have even been perceived as a potential threat by “average” Japanese citizens. Some casually lump them in with criminals. This makes it difficult for even those who do wish to get help to bother getting help at all. They fear even more criticism and humiliation – the very things they are trying to avoid by going into seclusion.

Help for Hikikomori

Despite this stigma, help exists, There are support groups that provide aid. And there are programs set in place to assist individuals in coming out of their shut-in lifestyles.

Volunteer Groups and Rental Sisters

Certain volunteer groups have been established as a way to help coax hikikomori back into society. One such program is called New Start. It aims to get hikikomori to attend community centers, establish work experience, and learn or relearn how to socialize.

New Start also holds a program known as “Rental Sister”. In this program, women volunteer to visit homes of hikikomori to ease them back into socializing. Experts say it takes about one to two years to help hikikomori leave their rooms. The cost for such a service is around $8,000. However, consider the financial burden already placed on these families by supporting their hikikomori children. Given that, the cost may seem well worth it.

The most important thing, however, is the hope associated with the program. In fact, one specific story tells of a man who had been secluded in his room for 7 years. He ended up not just successfully transitioning – he eventually married the woman who had been his rental sister.

Hikikomori in Anime

Hikikomori has been the subject of popular culture, such as anime. In one series, a young girl spends time visiting a young hikikomori. The young man suffers from paranoia and thinks the entire world is a conspiracy against him. Viewers gave Welcome to the NHK[5] generally positive reviews, as people felt they could understand and sympathize with the character. However, actual hikikomori called the show’s accuracy into question. One viewer said that he understood the creator’s attempt at fostering a better understanding. But ultimately he said, “fiction is fiction”: he regards the series as way too optimistic in depicting the number of people who’d come to one’s aid:

現実には助けてくれる美少女も、理解のある親も、気楽に話せる友達も、頼りになる先輩もいない。無職になると、それまでの交友関係は消える。社会から切り離されて孤独になるのだ。特に、精神的な理由で無職になってしまった場合(僕やNHKにようこその主人公のように)リアルの人間関係を持続するのは極めて難しい。

In reality there are no beautiful women, understanding parents, friends who’ll strike up casual conversation, or reliable mentors (senpai) to save you. If you become unemployed, you lose the relationships you’ve made up until that point. You’re separated from society, and become isolated. If, like me and the protagonist in Welcome to the NHK, you become unemployed for mental health reasons, It’s incredibly hard to maintain your real human relationships.

Hikikomori Support Newspaper

Also offering support for current and transitioning hikikomori is a newspaper called the Hikikomori Shimbun (The Shut-In’s Newspaper)[6]. it features many articles that provide assistance and support. You will find several of the articles referenced in this post come from their online paper.

Hikikomori-Friendly Jobs

A full-time job may be a big leap to expect from someone who has spent so much time in seclusion. However, some are able to acquire and hold down certain part-time jobs with proper training and treatment. Of course, even part-time jobs can be stressful when it comes to interacting with people. But they can also be a good way to re-familiarize one’s self with the world. And a part-time job offers more flexibility. For example, hikikomori can choose to work a slower shift such as the night shift when there aren’t many customers. Or, they can stick to more behind-the-scenes jobs, such as shelf stock, or even quiet jobs like a librarian.

There are welfare services available for those considering re-entering the workforce [7]. Employment support helps find and provide a workplace for those who struggle with working in large companies. Such support focuses on locations that employ supportive staff who have an understanding of hikikomori.

Communication is Key

For hikikomori who want to rejoin society, one of the key roadblocks is communication.

Approaching those affected by the condition and their families can be difficult. Experts say it is important to first establish an environment that ensures “peace of mind”. All parties must feel comfortable expressing themselves and know they will not be attacked or criticized for their choices. Experts say it’s also important to avoid reinforcing stereotypes, which may lead to further withdrawal. 

The implementation of support programs, a greater social awareness, and a better understanding and communication are all positive signs. Perhaps a solution – and solace for the afflicted – may not be such a farfetched goal after all.

What to Read Next

Hikidashi-ya: The Shady Businesses Taking Advantage of Shut-Ins

Sources

[1] ひきこもりの原因ってなに?どうしたら脱出できるの?家族の接し方、高齢化した場合の対応方法を解説します. https://snabi.jp/article/29

[2] 好きなことさせれば引きこもりにならない. https://president.jp/articles/-/27044

[3] 引きこもりの原因となる9個の要素とは?https://seikatsu-hyakka.com/archives/10007

[4] 「8050問題」支える親に募る不安. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/special/hikikomori/pages/articles_08.html

[5] リアルひきこもりから見た『NHKにようこそ. http://higananetaro.blogspot.com/2017/12/nhk.html

[6] 引きこもり新聞. http://www.hikikomori-news.com/

[7] 市民協働で作る居場所とはたらく場のあいだ(就労移行支援コンフィデンス). http://www.hikikomori-news.com/?p=3028

Other Sources

Business Insider. “A psychological ailment called ‘hikikomori’ is imprisoning 500,000 Japanese people in their homes — and it’s more of a threat than ever.

National Geographic. “Pictures Reveal the Isolated Lives of Japan’s Social Recluses.”

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