Monday, February 14, 2011
Most Hikikomori people experienced school refusal and then dropped out of schools and became Hikikomori. Some Japanese people thought so.
But a recent study contradicts that popular belief. According to a study by the Cabinet Office released on July 24 2011, only 11.9 per cent of Hikikomori people selected school refusal (when they were in elementary, junior high and high school) as a cause of their Hikikomori. The study also indicates that 23.7 per cent of them answered they didn't fit in their workplaces and that caused them to be Hikikomori. The same per cent attributed their cause of Hikikomori to their illnesses (excluding physical illnesses and schizophrenia). And 20.3 per cent answered they couldn't get jobs and that led them to be Hikikomori.
That may mean popular belief that Hikikomori are as a result of school refusal is wrong. Another possibility is that most Hikikomori people used to former school refusal students, but now are more heterogeneous group.
I'm a Hikikomori and have met dozens of Hikikomori people. Some of them certainly experienced school refusal when they were in elementary, junior high and high school. But they also include many people who suffered from school refusal when they were in colleges or universities and dropped out. And those who became Hikikomori after they graduated from schools are also not uncommon. I also became Hikikomori as a result of failing to get a job after I graduated from college.
Several researches suggest that Hikikomori people become older. I guess one reason for that is increasing number of working people around 30 leave their jobs and become Hikikomori.
But a recent study contradicts that popular belief. According to a study by the Cabinet Office released on July 24 2011, only 11.9 per cent of Hikikomori people selected school refusal (when they were in elementary, junior high and high school) as a cause of their Hikikomori. The study also indicates that 23.7 per cent of them answered they didn't fit in their workplaces and that caused them to be Hikikomori. The same per cent attributed their cause of Hikikomori to their illnesses (excluding physical illnesses and schizophrenia). And 20.3 per cent answered they couldn't get jobs and that led them to be Hikikomori.
That may mean popular belief that Hikikomori are as a result of school refusal is wrong. Another possibility is that most Hikikomori people used to former school refusal students, but now are more heterogeneous group.
I'm a Hikikomori and have met dozens of Hikikomori people. Some of them certainly experienced school refusal when they were in elementary, junior high and high school. But they also include many people who suffered from school refusal when they were in colleges or universities and dropped out. And those who became Hikikomori after they graduated from schools are also not uncommon. I also became Hikikomori as a result of failing to get a job after I graduated from college.
Several researches suggest that Hikikomori people become older. I guess one reason for that is increasing number of working people around 30 leave their jobs and become Hikikomori.
