Hikikomori

A hikikomori.

Hikikomori (ひきこもり o 引きこもり, literally to withdraw, be withdrawn; ie, "acute social isolation"^?) is a Japanese term to refer to the social phenomenon that consists of isolated people who have chosen to abandon social life; often seeking extreme degrees of isolation and confinement, due to various personal and social factors in their lives. In Japan, it tends to affect men more than women.

The term refers to the sociological phenomenon, as well as to the people who belong to this social group. In Western terminology, this group can include individuals who suffer from social phobia or social anxiety problems. This can also be caused by agoraphobia, avoidant personality disorder or extreme shyness or by a love fracture. Estimates from 2016 suggested that there were more than five hundred thousand hikikomori in Japan.

Symptoms of isolation

While some people feel pressure from the outside world, and suffer from agoraphobia or social phobia, a hikikomori (better known as "Antisocial Otaku") reacts with complete isolation. society to avoid all outside pressure. They may lock themselves in their bedrooms or some other room in their parents' house for extended periods of time, often years. They usually don't have any friends, and they mostly sleep through the day, and watch TV, surf the internet, or play video games at night. All of this makes them an extreme case of parasitic bachelors (Japanese expression for those who live on instant soups, living at home with their parents for comfort).

Isolation from society usually begins gradually, before the hikikomori locks the door of his room. They tend to accumulate garbage around them, especially from the instant or on-demand food they consume. They often find themselves sad, lose their friends, become insecure, shy, and talk less. They are frequently teased at school, which can be the trigger for their isolation.

Most hikikomori maintain contact with the outside world only through the computer, television, and online video games. However, in extreme cases, the hikikomori can shut down even this and spend hours and hours without engaging in activities of social interaction or appreciation at all.

The Japanese doctor Tamaki Saito is a forerunner in the studies of this new social disease.

Parental reaction

Having a hikikomori in the family is usually considered an internal family problem, and many parents wait a long time before seeking psychological therapy. Furthermore, in Japan the child's education is traditionally the responsibility of the mother, and the father may leave the whole problem of hikikomori to the mother, who feels overprotective of her child.. Initially, most parents simply hope that the child will get over her problems and return to society of her own free will. They see it as a phase that the child has to overcome. Also, many parents don't know what to do with a hikikomori, and simply wait due to a lack of other options. Normally the child is not forced (or takes a long time to do so) radically to re-integrate into society. Having a hikikomori in the family is often embarrassing. Schools and social workers can ask questions, but usually do not get involved in the situation.

Many parents of the hikikomori make the decision to send them abroad, hoping that the change of environment will help them, but all they do is pass the problem on to the host family, which is the how the problem was known in the West.

Effects of hikikomori

The lack of social contact of these people and the prolonged isolation have a great effect on the mentality, with loss of social skills and the necessary moral referents. Often the world of television or video games becomes their frame of reference.

If the hikikomori eventually (often after a few years) returns to society of his own free will, he has to face the problem of having lost many of his social skills, as well as years of study, which aggravates reintegration. They fear that others will find out about their past as hikikomori, and are hesitant around people, especially strangers.

It's hard to get exact figures on individual cases, as many families choose not to talk about this issue.

Treatment

There are differing opinions about the treatment a hikikomori should follow, and opinions often split between a Japanese and a Western point of view. Japanese experts usually suggest maintaining permanent contact without invading their space and trying to reincorporate them into society very progressively, while Western doctors think that one must maintain a firm stance and even act directly by forcing the hikikomori to abandon their confinement. In any case, psychological help is necessary, since many parents are overwhelmed by the problems of a hikikomori. Although there are some doctors and clinics specializing in helping hikikomori youth, many of them and their parents still feel a lack of support for their problems.^{[citation needed]}

The rest of the world

Complete social isolation according to various sources is primarily a Japanese phenomenon, but young people around the world experience the same social pressure and can be teased, often creating similar hateful behavior and aggression. Cases are known in Latin America, especially Argentina and Venezuela, as well as in Europe.

The Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Addictions of the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona has confirmed cases in Spain. The patients had an average isolation period of 39.3 months and an extreme case of 30 years of social isolation has been documented. In many cases there was an associated mental disorder.

Related works

• Hikikomori (2012). Kevin Kuhn's novel.
• Tokyo! (2008). Fragment "Tokyo Shaking" by Bong Joon-ho.
• Me~teru no Kimochi (2006-2007). Manga from Hiroya Oku.
• The naked sun (News by Isaac Asimov).
• Samobójców Room (2011). Polish film.
• Yume Nikki (2004-2018). Kikiyama PC video game that is based on this social phenomenon.
• Kagerou Project (2011-2014). Lightweight novels, Manga and Anime by Japanese writer Jin.
• Hikikomori (2007) novel by Ellen Kennedy and Tao Lin.
• Dublinesca novel by Enrique Vila-Matas (among other things) this theme.
• Orange red (2016) story of Mariana Enríquez of the book The things we lost in the fire.
• Hikikomori (2016). Novel of Manuel Ángel Morales Escudero.
• NHK and Yōkoso! (2002). Tatsuhiko Takimoto's Novel, which was adapted to the animé with the title Welcome to the NHK.
• Hikikomori (2018). Story of science fiction by Daniel González.
• Sweet home (2020). Netflix series where the protagonist is a hikikomori who plans to commit suicide by losing his family.
• Omori (2020). PC videogame by Omo Cat on which one of its routes is based on this social phenomenon.