Dylan Reilly

The phenomenon of the hikikomori, despite appearing simple at first glance, is the result of a variety of factors and cannot be easily categorized

Its psychological, sociological, and cultural roots must all be taken into account if a truly successful method of treating the problem is to be found

A usually physically healthy person, from age 20-30, who refuses to leave their house

The concept may exist elsewhere but appears most common in Japan, having appeared more prominently since the mid-1980s

Derived from the Japanese verb hikikomoru(引きこもる), “to remain indoors”

Etic view◦ Sociological factors◦ Psychological factors

Emic view◦ “Filtration” in anime and manga◦ Self-reported hikikomori traits

Thanks to its prevalence in Japan, hikikomori is believed by some to be a “culture-bound syndrome”, a disorder limited to a specific culture with symptoms that do not match other illnesses

Seen by some as a response to stress generated by “collectivistic values and emphasis on uniformity in Japan” (Yoneyama, 2000)

Japan’s general emphasis on “the group” may cause people to see becoming a hikikomori as more acceptable than lashing out

Family-based theories are focused mostly on parent-child relationships

Pressure to succeed placed on children by their parents

First-born males expected “to care for their parents in old age” (Fogel & Kawai, 2006)http://konibook.web.fc2.com/afb16--2.jpg

Amae – “dependent love” most commonly seen between mother and child, supposedly also in the majority of Japan’s hierarchical relationships (Doi, 2005)

Possibly a part of nihonjinron, “theories on the Japanese,” rather than a trait endemic to Japan

A form of co-dependence, enabling both parent and child

Pressure to be “the good child” – it is possible that the praising of children who always do as they’re told can lead to children suppressing their emotions

http://cache5.amanaimages.com/cen3tzG4fTr7Gtw1PoeRer/02266005899.jpg

Futoko – “school refusal”, where children avoid school to escape bullying or parental pressure; its relative prevalence may cause it to be a gateway into hikikomori

Bullying – children that are seen as “different” are often bullied, potentially leading to emotional crises or becoming hikikomori

While some hikikomori appear to be more influenced by cultural or sociological factors, some may be suffering from preexisting mental illnesses

Individuals in other countries with symptoms similar to hikikomori have been diagnosed with several different disorders, including avoidant personality disorder, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder

Rehabilitation groups and counseling programs also exist specifically for hikikomori, with varying levels of success

This suggests that hikikomori may be something to be “cured” or has some roots in a psychological condition

Advertisement for New Start, a hikikomori rehabilitation program

http://ns-kansai.org/wordpress/wp-content/themes/panorama20120405/header_images/newstart.jpg

Often, the hikikomori is connected in popular culture to the otaku, or “super-geek”

Because of this, portrayals of hikikomori in animeand manga are often softened to avoid alienating a potential viewership

http://getnews.jp/img/archives/sasami2.jpghttp://www.mediafactory.co.jp/files/d000172/hikikomori1_7iyr_cov.jpg

In Sayounara, Zetsubou-sensei (Goodbye, Mr. Despair), a manga known for poking fun at Japan’s social problems, the character Komori Kiri, a hikikomori, appears

In addition to being treated lightly, the character is presented as cute, nonthreatening, and even desirable

Portrayal as female –general “cute girl” appeal or extra distancing factor?

http://moe.animecharactersdatabase.com/images/sayonarazetsubousensei/Kiri_Komori.gif

For many hikikomori, the internet is the single bridge of communication to the outside world

Outsiders can use various websites and message boards to get a glimpse into the everyday life and thoughts of the hikikomori

“When you wake up in the daytime, you think "I'll sleep a little bit more" and when you wake up at night, you think "It's about time to get up..."”

“You stop looking yourselves in a mirror. You look at yourselves reflected in a mirror after one year and wonder if the face in the mirror is sure that of yours.”

“You re-acknowledge that the world functions without you.”

“You feel inferiority complex even towards your pet. Before you stroke him/her, you pause and wonder if a person like me is worth stroking him.”

“I dream of you playing with my friends. I wonder why because I decided that I don't need any friends anymore.”

“You feel like crying when you wake up after such dreams. In dreams like that, people you may be able to become friends with or you want to become friends with appear. That's so tough.”

“Same here. In my case, friends I used to hang out with appear in my dream.”

“SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY”

Each case of hikikomori is different and may be affected by these factors in different ways

Other factors – economic issues/lack of employment – also exist

Regardless, each of them contribute to the hikikomori phenomenon as a whole; if solutions to each portion can be found, we will be much closer to being able to treat and perhaps prevent hikikomori in a holistic manner

Doi, Takeo. 2005. Understanding amae: The Japanese concept of need-love : collected papers of Takeo Doi. Folkstone, Kent, U.K.: Global Oriental.

Fukushima, Maki. 2012. What is it to be in hikikomori, an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Ph.D. diss., Alliant International University, http://search.proquest.com/docview/1269517688?accountid=15053 (accessed February 3, 2014).

Jones, Maggie. “Shutting Themselves In.” New York Times, January 15, 2006. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/15/magazine/15japanese.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

Takimoto, Tatsuhiko & Oiwa, Kendi. “Welcome to the Project!” Excerpt from NHK niYoukoso! (Tokyo: Kadokawa Shoten, 2004).

Zielenziger, Michael. “Retreating Youth Become Japan’s ‘Lost Generation’.” Excerpt from Shutting Out the Sun. NPR, November 24, 2006. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6535284

http://4chanarchive.org/brchive/dspl_thread.php5?thread_id=965262&x=The+life+of+a+hikikomori+ (currently unavailable – may exist in another archive)