Saturday, October 23, 2010
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 Typically, families of withdrawn young people consulted the NPO, and the NPO dispatches Rental Sisters or Brothers to their houses.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.
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.
Monday, August 30, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
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
(New Window Open)
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.
* Here is a link to the survey. Cabinet Office website.*
http://www8.cao.go.jp/youth/kenkyu/hikikomori/pdf_index.html
(New Window Open)
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.
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.
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