Hikikomori - Social withdrawal in Japan

New Start is a Japanese NPO that helps school refusers, NEET and Hikikomori people to start a new life. The NPO is known for providing outreach services to Hikikomori or NEET people called "Rental Sister" and "Rental Brother." Typically, families of withdrawn young people consulted the NPO, and the NPO dispatches Rental Sisters or Brothers to their houses. They visit withdrawers' houses and encourage them to connect with society.

Rental Sister gains attention. Several books about Rental Sister were published. In addition, one of them was dramatized on TV.

Today even an Act mentions outreach. The Act on Promotion of Development and Support for Children and Young People was enforced on April 1, 2010. That refers to outreach to Hikikomori or NEET people. Under the Act, the Cabinet Office built a training system to increase human resources capable of outreach.

And Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare published a new guideline for assessment and support for Hikikomori people on May 19. That devotes a chapter to outreach. According to the guideline, "outreach is expected to be an effective method to help Hikikomori people." But the guideline also points out that outreach needs thorough preparation to increase the effectiveness of visit, because it can take personal and time costs and it can bring about serious harmful effects.

Outreach to Hikikomori people is not common yet. Health minister said at the Upper House Committee on Health, Welfare and Labor on June 1 that outreach is not spread because of human resource shortages.

According to the Japan and UK media, Hikikomori is added to the latest edition of Oxford Dictionary of English (not Oxford English Dictionary). Hikikomori is now a valid English word. But do you know the origin of the word Hikikomori is related to English?

Since early times Japanese people have used a verb Hikikomoru. But until recently the word didn't include the meaning of young people (especially male) 's abnormal social avoidance.

In 1998 Tamaki Saito, a psychiatrist, named such avoidance as Shakaiteki Hikikomori in his book. The term is a literal translation of a psychiatric term "social withdrawal."

Shakaiteki Hikikomori is a prototype of today's concept of Hikikomori. After Saito's book was published, the concept was become known. Moreover, Neomugicha incident (a 17-year-old Hikikmori youth hijacked a bus) increased the recognition of the concept in 2000.

But people didn't necessarily call Shakaiteki Hikikomori. Many said only Hikikomori, although what they said Hikikomori was a concept based on Saito's Shakaiteki Hikikomori. Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare was not an exception. MHLW created a new difinition of Hikikomori and distinguished it from Shakaiteki Hikikomori in Hikikomori guideline in 2003.

In this way, the concept Hikikomori spread among Japanese people. 12 years after Saito coined the term Shakaiteki Hikikomori, Oxford Dictionary of English added Hikikomori.


* Strictly speaking, Saito is not the first person to use the word (Shakaiteki) Hikikomori to mean young people (especially male) 's abnormal social avoidance. But the word did not known well before Saito's book was published.

Q.1 Why do you shut yourself in?

It may be odd, but I don't know it myself. However, I guess several factors influence my condition. I want to work, but it's difficult for me.

Q.2 What do you do when you are in your home?

I manage my websites, surf the web, go to facilities for Hikikomori or NEET people, do housework, study English, read books, etc. I get some ad revenues through my websites.

Q.3 Did you experience school refusal?

No, I didn't,

Q.4 Were you bullied when you were in school?

Yes, I were. I was bullied on a daily basis when I was in elementary and junior high school.

Q.5 Don't you feel ashamed to depend on your parents?

No, I don't. But I'm not able to overcome my Hikikmori.

Q.6 You're not able to continue being Hikikomori forever. In the long run your parents pass away. So, you should work immediately.

I know. But I'm not able to overcome my Hikikmori.

Q.7 You're not Hikikomori nor NEET. You sometimes go outside, go to facilities for Hikikomori people, consult career counselors and work as a member of career experience programs.

The new Hikikomori guideline by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare defines Hikikomori as "A phenomenal concept which means avoiding social participation (e.g. school attendance including compulsory education, entering the workforce including part-time job and associating with somebody outside the home) and generally remaining at home for 6 month and over in principle (including going outside without associating with somebody). Moreover, although as a general rule we define Hikikomori as nonpsychotic phenomenon excluding social withdrawal based on a positive and negative symptom of schizophrenia, keep in mind that it's not uncommon that Hikikomori includes schizophrenia before a definite diagnosis is made." As I don't participate in society, excluding going to facilities for Hikikomori people, I see me as a Hikikomori.

And white papers on labor and the economy by MHLW defines NEET as "nonlabor force aged from 15 to 34, excluding homemaker and students." According to the definition, I'm definitely a NEET.

Q.8 There are many Hikikomori people in Japan. Why do you think such people have increased recently?

I don't know. I don't even know whether the number of Hikikmori people have increased recently.

The Cabinet Office released a survey on Hikikomori on July 2010.

* Here is a link to the survey. Cabinet Office website.*
http://www8.cao.go.jp/youth/kenkyu/hikikomori/pdf_index.html
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The survey was widely reported by the Japanese media. The survey's estimate of Hikikomori population "700 thousands" was emphasized.

Of course, I read the survey. To my mind, the survey is one of the most reliable of all Hikikomori one, because the survey carefully selected samples.

Contrary to popular belief, there are many kinds of Hikikomori people according to the survey.

For instance, some people think the main cause of Hikikomoi is bullying. According to the survey, 42.4 percent of Hikikomori group experienced being bullied. On the other hand, 22.9 percent of general group, neither Hikikomori group or empathic group, experienced. Certainly, more Hikikomori people have the experience of being bullied, but not all Hikikomori people have.

Another instance is a question "I'm not good at communicating with people very much." It is widely said that most Hikikomori people feel they are not able to communicate with people well. According to the study, 69.5 percent of Hikikomori group answered "yes" or "rather yes." On the other hand, 43.8 percent of general group did. From the study, we find many people of Hikikomori group are insecure about their ability to communicate. But from a different point of view, about 30 percent of Hikikomori group answered "no" or "rather no" to the question. Hikikomori people may not necessarily unconfident about their ability to communicate with people.

In this way, I find that Hikikomori people are not homogenius group.

I was very surprised when I heard that there were 3.6 million Hikikmori people in Japan, because I had never heard such an awful figure. The figure "3.6 million" spreads across the Internet.

But what's the source of the information? How was the Hikikmori population estimated?

I searched "Hikiokomori 3.6 million" in Japanese on Google (web search), Google books (books search) and Google scholar (scholarly literature search). There was no information on Google books and Google scholar about the estimate. But I found many rumors about the estimate on Google. All rumors are circulated in 2010.

Searching more, I found that the source seems to be a remark by Kazuhiro Haraguchi, Minister of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications on February 5, 2010 in the Suicide Conference. Asahi Shimbun online edition reported his remark on February 5, 2010. On the same day, Haraguchi commented on press conference in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications that "There are 3.6 million Hikikomori people according to a research by a NPO. Although the Government doesn't confirm the figure, it reports the average age is 32."

Haraguchi seemed to mention the figure based on a research by a NPO. But I don't know which NPO conducted the research. I think the largest NPO about Hikikomori is Hikikomori KHJ Parents Association, the only nationwide NPO about Hikikomori and a lobby group. But I haven't heard the association went the research public. Maybe other NPO went the estimate public, but I don't know which NPO was.

After all, I'm not able to find the evidence of 3.6 million Hikikomori people.

* * * * * * * * * *

On the other hand, according to the Guideline for Assessment and Support for Hikikomori People, the most trusted estimate of Hikikomori population is at least 255,510 households. This estimate was conducted as part of the World Mental Health Survey Japan.

* Epidemiological survey on mental health: international comparison *
http://jglobal.jst.go.jp/public/20090422/200902201798722988
(The link to the J-GLOBAL, a Japanese website devoted to provide information on research and development)

And according to the media on July 23 2010, a research by the Cabinet Office estimates there are 0.7 million Hikikomori people. But I don't know the details of the estimate.

After all, how many Hikikomori people are there in Japan? Many kinds of estimates confuse me.

Some facilities for Hikikomori and NEET people organize career experience programs.
I guess the purpose of the programs are to gain Hikikomori or NEET people's confidence to work and provide simple job training. It is said that many Hikikomori or NEET people lose confidence to work.

I also participate in the programs. The programs I join are not so hard to do, because they are for people who are prepare to work.

Even if these are not so hard, they are jobs. I sometimes help companies' works and receive my pay through the programs. It's a consolation for me, because I have a guilty conscience about not working. So, I work hard in career experience programs. I sometimes work without interruption when other members take breaks. Some staffs of the program suggest I should take breaks, because it's also important to rest. That may be true, but I hope they understand my feelings.

* * * * * * * * * *

However, even if I'm able to work as a member of career experience programs, that does not necessarily mean I'm also able to work in actual workplaces.

If there are workplaces that hire me, give me easy jobs and look after me in the same way as the career experience programs, I guess I'm able to work. But there must be no such workplaces.*

"What's the difference between the career experience programs and actual works?" One staffs of the program asked me. It's a problem how to bridge the gap between them.



* On rare occasions, I see people wanting such workshops for those who with some communication problems.

Most Japanese people take leave from at the end of April to early May, because there are many public holidays.

For more detail, see "Golden Week (Wikipedia)"

One member of my family also took leave for that period. But the vacation disturbed the rhythm of her life. She said, "My daily rhythm is disturbed, because I have nothing to do with." To her, it was odd that I kept the rhythm of my life, although I was a Hikikomori who was out of work and lived in my house almost every day. "Why do you keep the daily rhythm?" She asked. I tried to find the answer.

A.1 Because my life didn't change very much despite holidays.

To my family who usually work on business days, holiday can disturb the normal rhythm of her life. On the other hand, to me, almost everyday is holiday. So, holiday doesn't affect the habitual rhythm of life.

A.2 I make something to do every day although I'm unemployed.

After I became Hikikomori, I made it a rule to listen to a radio English program every day. That developed my daily rhythm.

Currently, in addition to the radio program, I manage some websites and that develop my daily rhythm. For instance, when I update my Japanese weblog "Neet Hikikomori Journal," I make it a rule to update every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.. I do so because if so, readers of my weblog can easy to expect when I update my weblog. As a result, that develop my daily rhythm.

In addition, I go to facilities for Hikikomori people.

I fill my remaining time with housework, reading books, etc.

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare revised a guideline for assessment and support for Hikikomori people on May 19.

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/houdou/2r98520000006i6f.html
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Staffs of facilities for Hikikomori people are expected to refer to the guideline.

For three years, Hikikomori research group of the MHLW conducted a research project named "A study on investigation into the actual conditions of mental disorders that brings about Hikikomori and building psychiatric treatment and support systems." As a result of the study, a new guideline was published. The senior researcher is Kazuhiko Saito (Kohnodai Hospital, International Medical Center of Japan).

Former guideline was "A guideline for regional mental health activities on Hikikomori
who are mostly 10s and 20s. - How to deal with and support them in Mental Health and Welfare Center, Public Health Center and municipalities -" notified July 28, 2003.

http://www.mhlw.go.jp/topics/2003/07/tp0728-1.html
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Compared to the previous version, first, the new guideline is more based on the relationship between Hikikomori and mental disorders. That's because the Hikikomori research group found that most Hikikomori people have mental disorders, including developmental disorder, anxiety disorder, personality disorder, etc.

Second, the new guideline treats "outreach" to Hikikomori people. Outreach programs try to visit Hikikomori people rather than waiting for them to come and ask for help. Outreach is expected to be an effective method, because not all Hikikomori people visit facilities for them to ask for help.

There are stereotypes of Hikikomori people among Japanese. But I think it's difficult to stereotype them.

I've seen many Hikikomori people in facilities for them. At least as far as what I've seen, there are many kinds of Hikikomori people. Every time I saw a Hikikomori man or woman first, I was surprised to find that I've never seen such kind of Hikikomori man or woman.

Before I saw Hikikomori people, I vaguely thought that maybe they have certain things in common with me, because we are the same Hikikomori people. But they don't. Although I've seen many Hikikomori people for years, they have little common with me. Their conditions are different. Each of them have different experiences before and in the process of becoming Hikikomori. Each of them have different way of thinkings. Each of them have different likes and tastes.

They have something in common to some extent. For instance, most of them are male. Many of them are quiet. People who experience school refusal are not uncommon. Some of them go to psychiatry regularly. But not all Hikikomori people have these features.

For this reason, if someone ask me, "Based on people you've seen, what kind of people do you think typical Hikikomori men or women are ?" I don't know what to answer. But if I have to say something, I'll answer, "They are quiet men, have experiences of school refusal and have some mental health problems. But there are many Hikikomori people who don't apply to the stereotype."

I've seen some Hikikomori people who once had lived alone to go to colleges but after that became Hikikomori in their parents' homes. I also read such stories in books, websites, etc.

What happened to them? Did something happen in colleges? I guess they may have suffered from school refusal when they went to colleges and then dropped out of colleges and finally returned to their parents's homes. Another possibility is that they graduated from colleges without landing a job and then became Hikikomori.[*] Another possibility is that they returned to work at their home ground (Japanese people say this as "U-turn employment") but finally became Hikikomori.

As far as I know, many cases suffered from school refusa, dropped out of colleges and finally became Hikikomori in their parents' homes.

That is thought-provoking. Some people think one way of overcoming Hikikmori is to live separately from their families. Some suggest to Hikimori people's families that they drive Hikikomori sons or daughters out of their homes.[**]


[*] Simultaneous Recruiting of New Graduates

In Japan, it is the custom for companies to employ new graduates all at once. People say this custom as "Shinsotsu-Ikkatsu-Saiyo." If seniors aren't employed by the time they graduate from college, it becomes quite difficult to get job. For more detail, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simultaneous_Recruiting_of_New_Graduates

[**] But some object the opinion. Some agree with the opinion with some reservations.

Q.1 Taro is a Hikikomori man. He turns over a new leaf and decides to start working. Fortunately, two workplaces are likely to hire him. There aren't significant differences between the two workplaces in details of the jobs and working conditions. Which jobs will he apply for ?

A: A workplace which is 10 minutes away on foot.
B: A workplace which is 60 minutes away on foot.

Q.2 Jiro is a Hikikomori man. He turns over a new leaf and decides to go facilities for Hikikomori people before he start to work. Two facilities seem to accept him. Both of them provide similar services. Which facilities will he apply to ?

C: A facility which is 10 minutes away on foot.
D: A facility which is 60 minutes away on foot.

* * * * * * * * * *

If I were them, I'd choose B and D.

I'd choose places that are more remote from my house, because I may come across acquaintances of mine if I commute to places that are too close to my house. If I come across them, they may get to know I was a Hikikomori. I don't want them to know I was a Hikikomori. I don't mind walking 60 minutes each way to the workplace or facilities.

In this way, I'll pursue doughnut-shaped social participation if circumstances permit. In other words, I'll avoid commuting to nearby places but pursue distant places. Occasionally, I'm tempted to move to other areas to try to make a fresh start in life.

Some books about Hikikomori indicate that families of Hikikomori people tend to avoid being known as the family that has Hikikomori people.

Youth Independent Camp is to be closed on March 31, 2010. Instead, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare plans new independent program utilizing "Urgent Aid Project for Human Resource Development".

Youth Independent Camp provides three-month training camp to NEET, young people Not in Education, Employment or Training. NEET includes Hikikomori people. 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 entrust local management of the camps to various kinds of organizations, especially NPO. There are 27 Youth Independent Camps in Japan in fiscal 2009. The entrance fee is high, but the government subsidizes it.

But on November 2009 Budget Screening judged it should be abolished. Budget Screening is the review of government projects by the Government Revitalization Unit. People concerning the Budget Screening were agreed on the necessity of helping NEET to participate in society but criticized the camps from cost-effectiveness point of view. They also criticized the camp project for lack of grasping the achievements, lack of users, etc.

Many people, including the managers of the camps, journalists, politicians in the opposition party, and even some politicians in the ruling party, objected the judgement. A representative objection was that the camp is a social safety net, so it's not good to judge from cost-effectiveness point of view.

On the other hand, Netizens, excluding managers of the camps, tend to support the judgement. Netizens tend to object to inject public money into NEET who don't work and pay few taxes. Some people think Youth Independent Camp is an interest for some NPOs. They profit from the camp.

Government or local governments took measures to save Hikikomori people on the assumption that they were young.

But it has been said that Hikikomori people are aging.

For example, according to a survey in 2008 by Motohiro Sakai, Kazusa Kawahara, and Hikikomori KHJ Parents Association, the average age of Hikikomori people is 30.3 years old. KHJ has conducted the survey since 2002. The average age first exceeds 30 years old in 2007 survey (30.12) and it reaches the highest level in 2008 survey.

And According to Saknei News, 17 percent people who used Hikikomori telephone consultation service between July 2007 and March 2008 were aged 40 or over. The consultation service has been provided by Tokyo Metropolitan Office for Youth Affairs and Public Safety.

So, as far as I know, government and local governments begin to include older Hikikomori people.

Youth Support Station, established by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to encourage NEET (including Hikikomori people) to integrate in society, is extended from 34 years old or under to 39 years old or under since fiscal 2009.

There are many institutions for Hikikomori or NEET people in the region I live. They also include older Hikikomori or NEET people these days.

If Hikikomori people are truly aging, I don't know why. I guess one possible reason is that they've continued to be Hikikomori for many years, and as a result, they get old. Another possible reason is that more and more working young adult have become Hikikomori.

There are many kinds of Hikikomori people. Some don't go outside at all, others sometimes go outside. Some people may not regard the latter as Hikikomori.

I'm the latter type of Hikikomori. When I go outside, my destinations are facilities for Hikikomori people, bookstores, barbershop, etc.

*　Making mistakes when I go outside

It may be trivial, but after I became Hikikomori, I've made some mistakes more frequently than before when I go outside.

First, I forget something more frequently than before when I go outside. I carry many things, e.g. wallet, handkerchief, key, etc. But I sometimes forget to carry these things.

Second, I dress too heavily or too lightly more frequently than before without grasping outdoor temperature.

I've made such mistakes probably because I've been insufficiently-prepared to go outside. For instance, checking whether I forget something to carry, checking weather forecast, etc. I guess this is because I'm not used to going outside.

* Noticing change in the appearance of city streets, my skin color

Besides that, when I go outside after a long interval, I'm sometimes surprised to notice change in the appearance of city streets.

Last but not least, when I go outside, people occasionally say to me, "You have fair skin." or "Your skin isn't tanned very much." I guess this is because I don't go outside and expose myself to the sun very much. Although I don't think my skin isn't so tanned, it seems to be from other people's point of view.

As I'm a Hikikomori, I have a sedentary lifestyle. So, I'm worried about losing my strength and muscle mass. If I continue not to move, at worst, I may suffer from disuse syndrome. In addition, the more my strength and muscle mass decrease, the more difficult it becomes to work to overcome Hikikomori.

So, I try to maintain my strength and muscle mass on a day-to-day basis.

* Light muscle training

I make it a rule to do light muscle training, such as push-ups and sit-ups. Even in my house, I can do such light exercises. I don't do the training too hard but put emphasis on continuing to exercise every day. My body is not so strong, so I try to do light exercise at first.

One Hikikomori man I got to know also did training in his house. After that, he started working as a part-timer. But he said it was physically tough for him to work although he did training.

* Walking

In addition to light muscle training, I make it a rule to walk as much as I can when I need to go outside. I hear that some support groups for Hikikmori and NEET people hold walking events to increase their physical strength. But I can do walking at any time quite easily without relying on such support groups. Severe Hikikomori people can't go outside to walk, but my condition is not so bad.

When I go to facilities for Hikikomori or NEET people, I make it a rule to insert walking time into my commuting time as much as I can even if my destination is far away from my house.

And even if I have no plan to go somewhere, I intentionally go outside to walk. But I do so only on holiday because people will find out I'm unemployed if I walk outside on weekday (young male in general don't do working but work on weekday).