Hikikomori in Japan and the UK

Hikikomori, social withdrawal, is a major social problem in modern Japanese society. It appeared in the latter half of the 1980s, becoming a serious social problem since the 2000s. The phenomenon is also found in Asia and Europe. In this seminar, the artist Atsushi Watanabe shared his experience of suffering from Hikikomori and his recovery story, and explain how he is using his art to raise awareness of this social issue. Dr Tadaaki Furuhashi analysed the factors leading to Hikikomori in Japan and Professor Hamish McLeod discussed similar issues in the context of the UK.

Thumbnail image: I’m here project (2019); ©︎I’m here project / ©︎Atsushi Watanabe; Installation view “Gaze” (Site-A Gallery Beneath the Railways); Photo: Keisuke Inoue

[jprobertson-ej]

I find it ironic how in 2021, this is pretty much the norm now for everyone

[Colony]

I too am a Hikikomori I live in America. I hate black out curtains I cannot stand being around people so I do my grocery shopping at night. I just am very depressed. I suffer from mental illnesses.

[billjones]

I hate that being like this has made me scared of my mother's death not only for her sake but my own. What will I do when she is gone? How will I get a job? That is a selfish feeling, and I know the fix for it is to become independent now, and I know I can... but I am reluctant to do so, because independence is the complete opposite of what I am right now. And every time I try to change, I am reminded that I don't like socialising or interacting with my fellow humans. Too much effort for people I don't care about. And so I inevitably regress into the pessimistic, lazy blob who never leaves the house and relies on his mum for everything; the nocturnal creep who practically lives in another timezone; the man baby; the failure that I know I am, and find a twisted comfort in always being.

[foreverkurome]

If society wasn't so crappy toward people with mental illness I wouldn't be a hikikomori, I have plenty of qualifications just don't want to talk with any of the crappy people in the world. It is any wonder I want to be a hikikomori & have a waifu instead of a girlfriend.

[douglasjordan]

This is me....
I'm living in America...but I am Hikikomori....
I have aspergers....
For me it is a choice

[nihilisticsoup]

Think yourselves lucky that some of you guys have qualifications, I have basically none and other than my paid job of caring for a disabled man I live quite hikkomori when I'm not working.