Sunday, July 25, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
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.
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.
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