Friday, September 4, 2009
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
