Tuesday, November 17, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
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.
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