It is said that at least 320 - 400 thousands households have Hikikomori people or there are 1.6 million Hikikomori people in Japan.
But at least as far as I know, few Hikikomori people and their parents use public services for them.
Suppose there are 1 million Hikikomori people in Japan. The population of Japan is about 130 million. By simple arithmetic, there are about 100 thousands Hikikomori people in Tokyo prefecture which has the largest population of all prefectures in Japan (about 13 million). Similarly, there are about 5 thousands Hikikomori people in Tottori prefecture which has the lowest population of all prefectures in Japan (about 600 thousands) So, it is estimated that there are 5 - 100 thousands Hikikomori people in every prefecture.
But I don't feel such a large number of people live in my prefecture. As I wrote earlier, I go to Hikikomori day care. But only a small number of Hikikomori people visit the day care. Although there are a few Hikikomori day care in my prefecture, I can't find thousands of Hikikomori people at the day care.
Data supports my view. According to a report by Mental Health and Welfare Center in my region, MHWC provided less than 30 cases of Hikikomori consultation in fiscal 2008 (in actual number). This suggests that small number of Hikikomori people and their parents consulted MHWC.
* MHWC is a public institution for people with mental problems, including Hikikomori. MHWCs are located in every prefecture.
I don't know whether estimate of Hikikomori people is wrong or very small proportion of Hikikomori people and their parents use public services for them.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Youth Support Station / Youth Independence Camp
NEET is regarded as a serious social problem in Japan as well as Hikikomori. NEET is an abbreviation for young people Not in Education, Employment or Training, but excludes people who look for jobs. NEET includes Hikikomori people.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, a cabinet level ministry of the Japanese government, took measures to encourage NEET to integrate in society. It established Youth Support Station and Youth Independence Camp and entrust the general management of the facilities to Japan Productivity Center, a NPO.
Youth Support Station provides various programs for NEET and their parents to support for the vocational independence of NEET, such as consulting, career experience program, etc. In addition to Japan Productivity Center, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare entrust local management of the facilities to various kinds of organizations, especially NPO. There were 25 Youth Support Stations in Japan in fiscal 2006. The number of the Stations increased, and there were 92 Stations in fiscal 2009.
Youth Independent Camp provides three-month training camp to NEET. The aim of the camp is to develop the basic abilities to be independent and restore their confidence that they can work. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare also entrust local management of the facilities to various kinds of organizations, especially NPO. There are 27 Youth Independent Camps in Japan in fiscal 2009.
As NEET includes Hikikomori people, these facilities are also aimed at Hikikomori people.
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, a cabinet level ministry of the Japanese government, took measures to encourage NEET to integrate in society. It established Youth Support Station and Youth Independence Camp and entrust the general management of the facilities to Japan Productivity Center, a NPO.
Youth Support Station provides various programs for NEET and their parents to support for the vocational independence of NEET, such as consulting, career experience program, etc. In addition to Japan Productivity Center, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare entrust local management of the facilities to various kinds of organizations, especially NPO. There were 25 Youth Support Stations in Japan in fiscal 2006. The number of the Stations increased, and there were 92 Stations in fiscal 2009.
Youth Independent Camp provides three-month training camp to NEET. The aim of the camp is to develop the basic abilities to be independent and restore their confidence that they can work. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare also entrust local management of the facilities to various kinds of organizations, especially NPO. There are 27 Youth Independent Camps in Japan in fiscal 2009.
As NEET includes Hikikomori people, these facilities are also aimed at Hikikomori people.
Monday, September 28, 2009
"Don't rush to start working"
At least as far as I know, many people who help Hikikomori people to achieve economic and social independence say "Don't rush to start working."
I think what they meant to say was that if Hikikomori people who are unemployed for a long time rush to start working, they tend to fail, and at worst, their conditions worsen. They are not used to work. Many of them are even not used to go outside and communicate with people.
Long time ago, I saw a TV program about Hikikomori. In the program, Tamaki Saito, a psychiatrist, answered a question from Hikikomori people in early twenties who want to work early because it's difficult for aged 25 or over to land a job in Japan. Saito said it's better to experience social interaction at first in places for Hikikomori people such as Hikikomori daycare. In a recent report, Saito uses a metaphor "Before Hikikomori people begin to swim in the sea or river soon, they should train themselves in safer pool over and over again" to emphasizes the necessity of participating in places for Hikikmori people.
In addition, one person who help Hikikomori people to achieve economic and social independence taught me that some Hikikomori people have mental disorder. According to her, in that cases, they should get medical help at first.
But in reality, the longer people are unemployed, the more difficult they land jobs. I guess that's why some (or many?) Hikikomori people rush to start working. And some Hikikomori people may be not able to afford to prepare for working for a long time for some reason (e.g. economic reason).
I guess some Hikikomori people have the possibility of landing a job without stopping once. In fact, I know such a man. So, I think it's a way to work soon after Hikikomori people decide to do so.
I think what they meant to say was that if Hikikomori people who are unemployed for a long time rush to start working, they tend to fail, and at worst, their conditions worsen. They are not used to work. Many of them are even not used to go outside and communicate with people.
Long time ago, I saw a TV program about Hikikomori. In the program, Tamaki Saito, a psychiatrist, answered a question from Hikikomori people in early twenties who want to work early because it's difficult for aged 25 or over to land a job in Japan. Saito said it's better to experience social interaction at first in places for Hikikomori people such as Hikikomori daycare. In a recent report, Saito uses a metaphor "Before Hikikomori people begin to swim in the sea or river soon, they should train themselves in safer pool over and over again" to emphasizes the necessity of participating in places for Hikikmori people.
In addition, one person who help Hikikomori people to achieve economic and social independence taught me that some Hikikomori people have mental disorder. According to her, in that cases, they should get medical help at first.
But in reality, the longer people are unemployed, the more difficult they land jobs. I guess that's why some (or many?) Hikikomori people rush to start working. And some Hikikomori people may be not able to afford to prepare for working for a long time for some reason (e.g. economic reason).
I guess some Hikikomori people have the possibility of landing a job without stopping once. In fact, I know such a man. So, I think it's a way to work soon after Hikikomori people decide to do so.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Hikikomori and the Internet
There is a stereotype among Japanese that most Hikikomori people are immersed in the Internet. But I doubt it.
I've met many Hikikomori people. But as far I'm concerned, I don't know such people very much. Certainly some Hikikomori people (including me) are immersed in the Internet. But many of them don't.
A recent research supports it. Tamaki Saito, a Japanese psychiatrist, and others researched 67 cases of Hikikomori patients who visited Sofukai Sasaki Hospital from January 2001 to November 2007. According to the research, 4.1 percent of patients "are deeply immersed in the Internet", 18.4 percent "frequently use the Internet", 51.0 percent "sometimes use the Internet" 26.5 percent "don't use the Internet." (Saito et al., 2009)
But on the other hand, one research showed that more than half of high school and junior high school Hikikomori students are addicted to Internet games (Wada, 2003). I don't know the research in detail, but it's almost certain that this finding contradict Saito's one.
* * * * * * * * * *
Some Japanese people say that parents of Hikikomori people should destroy their sons or daughters' PCs when they become Hikikomori. They seem to think that most Hikikomori people are immersed in the Internet and they can't help going outside if someone destroy their PCs.
But I question that considering Saito's research. In addition, according to a research, some Hikikomori people go outside where they don't need to interact with people (Sakai et al., 2007). But as Wada found out, if many Hikikomori people are addicted to Internet games, that may be effective.
On the other hand, I worry about digital divide if their PCs are really destroyed.
In Japan even preschool children use the Internet now. Hikikomori people who don't use the Internet can't get enough information as people use the Internet.
[References]
Saito, T., Sasaki, H., Miyamoto, K., Handa, S., & Matsuki, S. (2009). Kouki shishunki / souki seijinki no Hikikomori ni taisuru seishin igakuteki chiryou / enjo ni kansuru kenkyu. Shisyunki no hikikomori wo motarasu seishinka shikkan no jittai haaku to seishinnigakuteki chiryou enjo system no kouchiku nikansuru kenkyu, 161-175.
Sakai, M., Nakagaito, M., & Hikikomori KHJ Parents Association. (2007). "Hikikomori" no jittai ni kansuru chousa houkokusyo 4 -NPO houjin zenkoku Hikikomori KHJ oyanokai niokeru jittai- Retrieved 3 September 2009 from http://www3.pref.okinawa.jp/site/contents/attach/12185/hikikomori.pdf
Wada, K. (23 June 2006). Net game ni hansuu ijou ga izon / Hikikomori chukousei ra /
minkan kenkyuujo chosa. Mainichi shinbun. Retrieved 12 August 2003 from http://www.mainichi.co.jp/digital/coverstory/archive/200306/23/1.html
I've met many Hikikomori people. But as far I'm concerned, I don't know such people very much. Certainly some Hikikomori people (including me) are immersed in the Internet. But many of them don't.
A recent research supports it. Tamaki Saito, a Japanese psychiatrist, and others researched 67 cases of Hikikomori patients who visited Sofukai Sasaki Hospital from January 2001 to November 2007. According to the research, 4.1 percent of patients "are deeply immersed in the Internet", 18.4 percent "frequently use the Internet", 51.0 percent "sometimes use the Internet" 26.5 percent "don't use the Internet." (Saito et al., 2009)
But on the other hand, one research showed that more than half of high school and junior high school Hikikomori students are addicted to Internet games (Wada, 2003). I don't know the research in detail, but it's almost certain that this finding contradict Saito's one.
* * * * * * * * * *
Some Japanese people say that parents of Hikikomori people should destroy their sons or daughters' PCs when they become Hikikomori. They seem to think that most Hikikomori people are immersed in the Internet and they can't help going outside if someone destroy their PCs.
But I question that considering Saito's research. In addition, according to a research, some Hikikomori people go outside where they don't need to interact with people (Sakai et al., 2007). But as Wada found out, if many Hikikomori people are addicted to Internet games, that may be effective.
On the other hand, I worry about digital divide if their PCs are really destroyed.
In Japan even preschool children use the Internet now. Hikikomori people who don't use the Internet can't get enough information as people use the Internet.
[References]
Saito, T., Sasaki, H., Miyamoto, K., Handa, S., & Matsuki, S. (2009). Kouki shishunki / souki seijinki no Hikikomori ni taisuru seishin igakuteki chiryou / enjo ni kansuru kenkyu. Shisyunki no hikikomori wo motarasu seishinka shikkan no jittai haaku to seishinnigakuteki chiryou enjo system no kouchiku nikansuru kenkyu, 161-175.
Sakai, M., Nakagaito, M., & Hikikomori KHJ Parents Association. (2007). "Hikikomori" no jittai ni kansuru chousa houkokusyo 4 -NPO houjin zenkoku Hikikomori KHJ oyanokai niokeru jittai- Retrieved 3 September 2009 from http://www3.pref.okinawa.jp/site/contents/attach/12185/hikikomori.pdf
Wada, K. (23 June 2006). Net game ni hansuu ijou ga izon / Hikikomori chukousei ra /
minkan kenkyuujo chosa. Mainichi shinbun. Retrieved 12 August 2003 from http://www.mainichi.co.jp/digital/coverstory/archive/200306/23/1.html
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Act for Measures to Support the Development of Children and Youths
The Japanese parliament enacted a law July 1 to prepare a support system for NEET, Hikikomori and children and young people who have a difficulty organizing their social lives.
The name of the law is "Kodomo Wakamono Ikusei Shien Suishin Hou." In English, "Act for Measures to Support the Development of Children and Youths." (translated by me :-p)
According to the Cabinet Office, this law has two objectives: (1) prepare a framework for totally promoting measures to support the development of children and youth, and (2) prepare networks to support children and young people who have a difficulty organizing their social lives.
Before the law was enacted, the bill aimed to prepare a support system for only NEET and Hikikomori people. But parliament amended the bill and expanded objects of support. The enacted law is for children and young people who have a difficulty organizing their social lives as well as NEET and Hikikomori people, as I wrote earlier. According to minutes of parliament, "children and young people who have a difficulty organizing their social lives" include children and young people who have various problems such as "school refusal and bullying in compulsory education schools and eating disorder" and "mild developmental disorder." I guess such children and young people have higher risks of becoming NEET and Hikikomori.
The name of the law is "Kodomo Wakamono Ikusei Shien Suishin Hou." In English, "Act for Measures to Support the Development of Children and Youths." (translated by me :-p)
According to the Cabinet Office, this law has two objectives: (1) prepare a framework for totally promoting measures to support the development of children and youth, and (2) prepare networks to support children and young people who have a difficulty organizing their social lives.
Before the law was enacted, the bill aimed to prepare a support system for only NEET and Hikikomori people. But parliament amended the bill and expanded objects of support. The enacted law is for children and young people who have a difficulty organizing their social lives as well as NEET and Hikikomori people, as I wrote earlier. According to minutes of parliament, "children and young people who have a difficulty organizing their social lives" include children and young people who have various problems such as "school refusal and bullying in compulsory education schools and eating disorder" and "mild developmental disorder." I guess such children and young people have higher risks of becoming NEET and Hikikomori.
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