Hikikomori: Japan's Modern Day Hermits

Hikikomori are individuals who will isolate for months, years or even decades, and it affects over a million people in Japan. In this video, find out more about Hikikomori, what causes them to isolate for such long periods, and why it's such an issue, particularly in Japan.

If you feel isolated or lonely, you can contact
Samaritans (UK) 116 123
TellJP (Japan) 03 5774 0992

#anime #school #technology

[ROANOKE]

Hey everyone - just wanted to address those commenting who say they either relate or are currently experiencing the same problem as discussed in the video.

Firstly, thank you for being brave enough to comment in the first place. I sincerely hope you found some comfort in my video or in the comments.

You are not alone.
There is help out there, if you need it.

Contact Samaritans, TellJP or your local mental health charity organisation - these people will listen without judgement.

ROANOKE

[Eurekaairline]

In 2020 after loosing my job i decided to become a hikikomori and shut in for over 3 years

[jryxless]

Nowadays, not only in japan, linear with technological and internet development all around the world, this such phenomenon could be found near us. Great video btw.

[vivacristorey]

I relate to this very much. I am lucky to have people who are understanding. I try to attend daily Mass because it is the one thing that gets me out of the house each day. But then I am often glued to the screen for the rest of the day. And when the anxiety gets really bad I start to miss daily Mass and then a week is gone before I know it. People say "can't you get a job" as if I were avoiding work on purpose. I am ashamed to be unemployed and have trouble explaining to people why I don't have a job. It is the constant rejection and feeling that I will get fired even if I get hired that keeps me from trying at times. The internet makes it easier to escape and not face my fears. It is like a cheap drug that I am addicted to. When I do finally go to a social situation, most of real interactions end up feeling boring because of being used to the fast pace of anime. I am in a self destructive way of life and don't know how to get out. I know that if I were starving then necessity would make me try harder. But I'm not starving and so that motivation slips away.

[IcecoldLulu]

Hikikomori has spread outside of Japan since it is something that many people have identified as this.

[RobyHaw]

I moved to Japan for work and also intended to try and grow a youtube channel. I was full of optimism at first but 4 months in living here, I find myself more and more inclined to shy away for society as well. I’m now going for 6 and that downward spiral is realizing more and more..it’s depressing.. I’m still trying though to break out of this low state but it’s just the vibe and energy of the environment here. People just don’t wanna be bothered..it’s hard to make friends.

[Hey.showstopper]

It's been Seven months i've not stepped outside my home! I do light exercise, sit under sun on terrace & take healthy diet but i had no social interaction with anybody other thn my parents in a long time.

[softskyrat]

This isn’t just a Japan problem. We might have the opposite ideology as we seen to value individuality and independence, but we still cause the same reclusion of people who can’t live up to these societal standards. We have hikikimori too, we just don’t notice.

[RealDiaFr]

I think if you include people who only go straight to work out of obligation, never socialize at work, and go straight home until the next time they are forced to work; this percentage would be much higher.

[ReeseGreyAnalyzes]

So sad that people can be pushed into such anxiety & not even feel like they can reach out for help. Also, congrats on the 1k 💕

[msarilyn]

Even though I don't live in Japan this issue effects me as well!

[Samuraisaac]

Killed it with this one, always interesting to learn about these kinds of things

[scottporter]

Welcome to the NHK is the best anime about a hikikomori. I relate to that anime so much, I absolutely love it.

[UTP_ENT]

I relate to this so much besides the financial aspect, I do go to work but I work in construction and get to zone out most the time but I spend my nights and weekends in my room alone. It would be nice to be social but it’s also nice not having any drama

[Niel_albatrozz]

Was a social recluse when I was 10, the only time I get to be with kids my age was in school, albeit I was bullied there. I never had any friends in our neighborhood (I was also known as the kid that never went out) and my only source of entertainment was our television. Now I'm in my twenties, still introverted but at least I go out every once in a while when I need to. The root cause of this was bullying which gave me social anxiety, made me overthink, and gave me low self-esteem, and low self-confidence.

[ufomechanic]

Thanks for making this, Seriously i had no idea this was a thing in Japan…not to the point they created a word for depressed people. That’s so sad.

[Chippey]

Awesome to see you creating again! Love your videos!

[dozer]

How do you not have more subscribers than this. Your content is amazing. Its narrative linked with your music choice and narration is godlike. Good shit man.

[matthewweng]

This is one of, if not the most clear, concise and compassionate documentaries I've ever seen... bravo.

[genehen]

Just wanted to expand on something that's a little wrong - being Hikikomori IS more complex than Agoraphobia, but agorophobia is not "simply a fear of public spaces".
It's not some weird little fear some people have, like being scared of a spider being in your bathroom.
It's an anxiety or panic disorder of being trapped somewhere unsafe where something bad will happen and you cannot get help or take care of yourself.

Imagine having a painful and sudden digestive disability, but you're caught in traffic, or walking in the city, and don't know where the nearest toilet is. The pain inside your body gets worse and worse every second until you can't walk or drive safely - and this can happen weekly or even daily.

Imagine being abused by a group of people while on public transport - they've already made you miss your stop, you don't know where you are going and nobody is bothering to help you.

Imagine your shitty parent kicks you out of the car in the middle of a boiling summer, so you have to walk home in the afternoon heat - and when you get home all the doors and windows are locked so you can't get in, leaving you out in the dark with the summer bugs eating your sweat.

Any of these situations will make you "scared of public spaces". They make you too anxious to leave the house, leave your safe space.
When people hear of Agoraphobia they think "ha, how weird, are they scared of big rooms or something? Like people who are scared of clowns?"
It's more like trauma. Enough shitty things have happened to me when I am out and unable to properly care for myself that I'd rather be at home, even sitting in the car feels like being latched into a rollercoaster.
I miss traveling.