Hikikomori is the Japanese term for adolescents who isolate themselves from society inside their bedroom. People are classified as Hikikomori if they are in their late twenties and have stayed in their home for the majority of each day for at least 6 months. The problem is not linked to other mental problems as it is mostly brought on by intrinsically japanese traits, like academic competition. Hikikomori is limited to Japan but in our country, Australia, there are equivalents like agoraphobia. As hikikomori is a big problem for Japan, it needs to be fixed, fast.
Hikikomori was first titled as a illness in 1998 by psychiatrist Tamaki Saito who noticed the growing number of withdrawing adolescents and needed to title the condition that they have. Hikikomori is a problem that started on the cusp of the 21st century and is an increasingly 21st century problem.80 percent of hikikomori are male and the majority of them come from middle class families.Young people affected by hikikomori use technology to make their lives easier. Some hikikomori are so dependent on technology that they have every meal they eat delivered to them. People struggling with hikikomori spend their time in different ways, most hikikomori spend their time on the internet but some resort to self harm. These adolescents who seek refuge in their own home are assisted by modern technology and increasingly supportive mothers and fathers. The majority of hikikomori, either live in their parent's home or live in a house of their own, supported by the funding of their parent's. As a disorder, Hikikomori could not exist in the state that it does now, if not for the mod-cons of the 21st century and the overwhelming care of parents.
Hikikomori is a major problem for Japan and has a few derivatives. Firstly, Japan is a very academically competitive country where most young people go from an increasingly competitive high school, straight into a 4 year university course.