Hikikomori: Japan's isolated and withdrawn shut-ins.
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
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I always believe that being alone by myself is better than being alone among people.
Good luck getting out of depressing without people caring for you.
@@randomquestion7592 Yeah being alone is suck
@@randomquestion7592 Other people can contribute to depression. $o there's that 👍
Being alone in order to stay away from toxic, gossipping people is good for you. So you can have me time, work out your own project to support yourself, dont forget to keep in touch with people, answer their phone calls, video calls accept their invitations to hang out. They still care about you. Dont feel inferior, be thick face about rejections by others
When you come home again after a day spent interacting with people you don’t know, that moment when you close the door behind you and hear.... nothing is truly priceless.
It happens because the kids are treated as investments rather than a people.
Happens everywhere. Either investments or cannon fodder. Did you know about that theory we're all bought and sold the minute they process our birth certificates? That's why our names were always in capital letters in any official document.
Hikikomori=extreme social anxiety, extreme pain and shame.
We all face anxiety in different levels.
I've been a hermit for over 10 years. I order food & stuff on-line & it comes to my door. I go to an ATM machine to get money to pay my rent. All other bills I pay on-line. Becoming a hermit is the result of many bad things happening to me over the years. I manage my diabetes by fasting so I don't have to see a doctor or get prescriptions filled. I've gotten my blood sugar stable at around 110 on average. It used to be around 590. Being around other humans really creeps me out. :(
How do you get money to pay for things?
David Bailey I hope you're okay.
Society is hard on young men, its easier to just withdraw from society. Young men are expected to find good jobs and earn enough money to provide for a family. But when a young man cannot obtain either, life is meaningless.
If a man fails that, any hope of finding a SO are out the window. When all you can find is a means to support yourself, barely, and only yourself, no one wants to touch you, or even look at you. With this pressure of expectation and what feels like forced seclusion (Not trying to sound entitled here, ladies, just put yourself in our shoes a moment,) it can feel quite easy to give up and find alternatives to keep your mind off your shortcomings. As for me, I have long accepted my lot in life and try my best each day to be happy with who I am regardless. I want to be strong, for myself, and I want to not feel like I need someone. This has worked, partially, for nearly a decade. Every month or so I have a pity-party night where I give myself an hour or two to acknowledge and indulge in my loneliness. It's a melancholy release after which I feel somewhat comforted.
No jobs that suit either your interests or your potential, no apprenticeships, no pensions, no living wage,
I am one myself, and I am almost certain that the dude didn't lock himself up just because of a customer's complain. It is accumulative. It is the constant pressure and stress that causes one to go "I had enough", and from there on, locking yourself in a room and stop all interactions can actually be quite therapeutic and comfortable. If it gets too lonely, there's always internet to interact with others like how I am interacting with other hikikomori now.
Oi.
Yes I found this purposefully over simplistic and slightly mocking
They are not allowed to be themselves… Too conformist a society.
America is just as bad. If you're not compliant you're not relevant to anyone.
Western individualism and Eastern collectivism poses different psychological strains, and the key is finding a balance between the two. In Japan, people withdraw inwards when faced with social pressure because it is a 'shame' culture. In the west, people externalise instead because it is a 'guilt' culture.
Hikikomoris shut themselves in their rooms, read comic books and play video games for several years before coming back out. This is a way they escape societal pressure.
In the west, people abuse all sorts of drugs to escape societal pressure and life stressors in general. Some of them turn into addicts causing more collateral damage.
So, pick your poison. :)
Any poison is nicer than society.
Shame and guilt feel very intertwined
I have found my people!
No, but two things: I have had every symptom you’ve listed for several years now. You just literally described my life. The difference is I rent a room from a friend so I see him regularly. Other than that, I see my mom and only go out for supplies.
Two: We are not weak. It is not one comment that sends us into this abyss. It is the overwhelming entirety of it all. It’s giving everything we’ve got and repeatedly being brought down for it, losing faith because we’re not stupid enough to keep doing the same things and expecting different results. We’re here because we believe that people have rarely been conducive to our growth.
Christina Reynolds ...am I, though? I mean, I am, but I don’t see how anything I’ve said could’ve given my awesomeness away.
@@Scoopski_Potato people can adapt to anything and overcome it but i guess the fakery of it all is what demotivates hikies as - you constantly have to conform and and pretend, ware a mask for the society...
That is what brings me down mentally, hence why I am friends with only a select few and usually work shitty jobs where i rarely interact with people or don't have to pay attention to my behavior as much...
I feel like I'm a hikikomori. I avoid social interaction all the time, turn down invites to gatherings. I only go out to buy groceries and recently had an operation which was incredibly stressful on me. The way I make money is through drawing commissions so I don't have to interact with people face to face and everything is done online. I've been like this since 2010 but I attempted to get a job in 2014, only held it for 8 months before retreating because of bullying.
sounds closer to social anxiety. I mean would you avoid contact if someone reaches out to you? would you feel comfortable if a friend came over and just chilled in your room with you?
BRAIIIIIINS i feel you bro, i was once, understand that feeling, even though im working now, i still urging to go back to my safe space, i dont know when will i back to being hikikomori again lol.
Im an American Hikikomori.. I'm guessing it's a combination of depression and social anxiety.
CyberRonin anxiety makes you avoid outside, and when you stay at home you become depressed. It's a 2 sided thing İn my own experience.
Sometimes being free can be scary too :/ And it doesn't really matter much because you are actually trapped inside your head.
Ah ok, thank you then :)
Let’s start an anti-social social club.
ive been a shut in for some years now im from Norway i go to school avoid interactions then go home and lock myself in my room all day this has been my daily routine for 4 years at around 1 am i go make food then i sleep at 4am
Atleast you go to school, i stopped long time ago. Im from Finland :).
@@WareRS cool
I wake up around 10pm. Go to sleep about 10ish am. I don’t like being around people.
Same here, been like this since I was a child, I remember becoming a recluse at age 8 (I'm 22 now). I've always been introverted & shy, I also have autism, anxiety & ptsd.
I've gotten alot better, but sometimes I will only go out at minimum once a month. Most of the time my friends come to mine once or twice a week. My local shop is a minute away but I hate having to go to it, or even throwing out rubbish bags since I live on the top floor of my flats.
So, I still have alot to work on. I hope you also keep working on it my dude!
@@lyneo5807 to leo, lohst, rebbeca and ware.
I have a period in my life where i shut myself too, but maybe not as long as you guys and my circumstances are different, but hear me out.
Anyone can trample and belittle you, but dont ever belittle yourself. It is fine to be sad, but dont let it consume you!.
I lost my house a couple of years ago, and i dont have anything much at that point. But i now regained my spirit and i know you guys can do it too!!. Just take it step by step. I still hate people around, and i ocasionally fall apart, but i learned how to improve myself bit by bit.
And i Wish you guys well here from indonesia. Take care 👋👋👋
psycological health is so heavily overlooked everywhere :(
This^
Yes
Countries. Like. Over. Populated IN DIA
Post-war Japanese society is as harsh and judgemental as it was in Edo period. School children are taught to respect and obey their elders in school, the Senpai/Kohei culture, bullying the shy or sensitive children relentlessly by both the other students and even the teachers. This system continues into adult life, where your superior at work demsnds the most abject and humiliating apology for the most trivial mistake. No wonder the population is shrinking fast. Who would want to bring up a child in that toxic culture, the art and traditions are not enough to justify it.
When a culture is so oppressive, hikikomori is the result.
As an american shut in who's been struggling with similar problems on, and off for over 10 years a lot of this sounds very familiar.
Americans are going through the same, and Chinese as well. Everyone works hard, no time to get to hangout and know people. What’s worse is, when you lose the people you knew in school and or work. Sometimes it’s best to become hikikomori, to protect one’s own heart and mind. From the good old memories.
The memories don’t necessarily have to be good but the functionality you experienced was the normal everyday activity of living. If it turns out you don’t meet a particular excellence in adult life you can find yourself refused once too often from employable society and perhaps then you begin to become that little more reluctant and reclusive.
Your answer is a good answer and touches upon what growing up entails.
Thank you 🙏
Good video. Although I have not lived in Japan, I used to spend about 5 weeks per year there, working in my company’s Tokyo office. I made many Japanese friends, a couple of whom would, over saki late at night after a typical 12-15 hour work day, explain various cultural nuances to me. Things that are not readily apparent to a westerner in a Japanese workplace, but that go on ‘below the surface’.
Based on these discussions, I can easily understand why Hikikomori exist. The pressure to conform in Japan is tremendous. In the workplace especially, there is no room for individuality. You must dress the same, act the same, and pretend to BE the same as everyone else. You cannot have you own ideas or opinions, you cannot say no. You cannot be an individual. You are expected to hide all feelings and have a smile on your face 100% of the time, and live completely within a very narrow band of social norms while at work. But with 70-80 hour work weeks not being uncommon at all, that is a LOT of unrelenting pressure. To hold up a mask of that magnitude for that many hours a week just causes some people to crack under the pressure. They are just unable, after a while, to live a life that forces them to completely deny who they really are, what they really think, and what they really feel nearly all of their waking hours for years on end.
As an American, I was not expected to abide by this narrow and extremely rigid code. But I know from observing it in a Japanese workplace over the course of many weeks that most Americans wouldn’t last 3 days in a Japanese office were they expected to hold to the same norms. We were raised in a country where individuality is encouraged and often admired. It would be very difficult for most of us to deny that sense for very long at all.
I love many aspects of Japan. It is a beautiful country, and so many of the people I met and continue to know are kind, helpful, and smart. But it is a very unrelentingly homogeneous culture in many ways....and these folks are the result. I liked his use of the word ‘soul crushing’...because that is exactly what it can so easily become. These people are not lazy. It’s not that they just want to stay home and play video games. It’s simply because they can no longer hold onto their souls while at the same time denying those souls with nearly every breath they take.
lol Japan sounds like hell. Living to 'work'
Well you didn't wrong
Right the total opposite of Spain. Siesta! Yes
All hikikomoris have my support.
So, you need my PayPal address? ;)
btw, ....years ago, Hikikomori was called in Europe and USA: World of Warcraft....
Peter Wild
#facts 😂
There is a anime called NHK which focuses on this condition, it was really good.
Thanks. I really liked your recommendation
Yes, it’s one of my all-time favorites. There are even clips from it used in this video.
Bullied and harassed by friends. Yeah those are not friends then
I want to be a hikikomori. Im just saving up to retire from my job, buy a small house and spend my life playing videogames, fuck society.
And by that time, you are in your 50s, bought a Harley and ride around the country?
I think when you choose to do it and it's not like a mental disease or caused by it the more appropriate word would be "hermit"
Hermits isolate themselves to meditate and reach enlightenment. Hikis isolate because they hate this sick society and evade themselves in the videogames alternative reality.
That’s my life now. I get groceries delivered. I go to doctor appointments, but other than that, I’m at home. It’s nice.
@@Sunset553 Do you work from home? How you win your income?
I'm the American version of hikkikomori
Same. It's better in many ways.
Same here on my 3rd year
I've learn 3d modeling, Photography, and a little of everything
and play games whenever i want.
aka a NEET
Me too.
Same
I live here in Austin Texas. When I used to drive for Lyft and Uber, I picked up this very intelligent young Japanese man who was new to Austin. We had a friendly conversation. He asked me in his broken English of places to go here in Austin and I asked him about his family and life in Japan. Suddenly, the conversation drifted and he began to tell me that he was basically disowned from his family. He chose to not marry and chose to not follow the same expectations his parents had of him. He was what he described as anti-social and everyone looked at him like an outsider. This was all a bit strange to me. I thought maybe his family were a dysfunctional family with very unreasonable parents. Little did I know that this is a cultural phenomenon in Japan. He seemed to be very happy here in Austin. Wherever he may be, I wish him all the best. This is very disheartening.
migol1984
Oh dear... I am very sorry to hear that. May God helps him through out his hard times and I hope he find happiness in Texas.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Being alone sucks, I'd know. I have Bipolar disorder, and when I'm feeling depressed, that's when everything turns to hell. Hope he's ok too...
Sometimes life breaks people.
because certain people end up hurting other people which in turn makes their life into "hell"
I don’t blame a lot of Japanese shutting themselves off people are often treated as robotic slaves
Getting to be the same way in places like the states where extroversion is compulsory if one is to remain employed and even in lines of work that traditionally were favored towards introversion have been replaced with open spaced bullpens and endless hours of on the camera social hell.
Some people can’t get their head around the concept of mental illness.
I feel so bad for these people, wherever they're located. I think it's more of a problem in Japan because there is a lack of refuge. An example of this would be the Shiva in India, men who live in the hills. Or in the USA, they'll often go into the mountains and live off grid. This is a natural thing, and often produces some of the most extraordinary people if they're able to find themselves. Japan has become so disconnected, and other countries are headed in the same direction.
Solitude in a natural setting with a diliberate practice of mindfulness does indeed have a trasnformative effect to transcendence. However, depressive shut-ins and hikikomori who do this out of depression and neglect is extreme neurosis symptoms of mental disease that either ends in tragedy, or a long road of recovery when they are able to break free.
It's impossible to live like that in the US anymore. You will be found, you will be evicted.
The real hell is that there's no way to opt out. That makes it literally a slave state.
This is becoming a global thing. And maybe the internet is partially why.
it is definitely a huge part of the reason. people increasingly socialize on the internet, as opposed to actual human interaction. it just makes it so much easier to seclude yourself.
Its the way of The New World Order
Anything that takes place in Japan reflects what happens in the west. It's just not as noticeable because of cultural diversity. The population crisis in Japan, the same cultural issues exist in the west
It's only going to get worse.... just wait til VR takes off.
And the COVID
Hikkis are very sensitive people, if someone yells or mocks them then that could trigger their hikikomori. So if you see people being bullied or abused like a customer abusing employee or student, tell the bully to shut up because they can't do it, good luck
He's on a long ass walk.
It's a hikikomori walkathon. Legends say he's still walking to this day, and won't stop until all hikikomori rejoin society xD
I have been a shut-in for 8 years. I now struggle to leave my house because I am very sick and couldnt handle the way I was treated like less then human because I live in southern California (USA) and people here and VERY judgmental. I was 35 when I stopped going outside. It was to much to always feel like a spectacle instead of a human being. But I also recognize I have severe depression from this and not handling the anger I feel from having my life basically taken from me having CIDP. I feel like I am worthless. america also has its dark side.
Krstyiynn same with me, once you get a taste of a quite safe life you don't wanna go back to reality. I've been a shut in for 7-8 years too. I dropped out of high school because I was mentally ill. (I've a got schizoid personality disorder and an anxiety disorder.) I can only feel safe home in my room and I've come to like this life style. I feel like a loser and failure, I'm definitely not who I thought I was gonna be when I was a kid.
Krstyiynn I have not been out consistently since 2007 so I guess that makes 10 years. You're not alone, though I know how much it feels like you are. I wish there was somewhere we could all go so we all had people to understand. It is ridiculously hard to fight your own mind.
Krstyiynn Im sorry you are going through this, I struggle with depression myself, I said a prayer for you tonight.
@Yug Tsol
Glad you're here watching this video with us. :)
Why not just go out at night? I work graveyard shifts and only come out at night lol. I'm a straight vampire
I'm slowly turning into one... I've lost the will to do anything...
I hardly ever go outside and only during the late hours of night
James Beath hey man hang in there. Have you tried talking to friends family? A random Internet forum? There is people out there that will listen. Hell. If you wanna spill your guts here in a sub section of one of my oldest videos where no one will see our convo I’ll listen. You can try me on Twitter or fb but I never recommend them cause they are crushed by spam. But here I have notifications on will listen and respond. But only if you wanna reach out. That’s the first step.
Any. Valid. Reason. Sirv. ??????
Love from. India
@@unrested I appreciate your concern thankyou so much for your help you're awesome... I just want you to know that I'm taking steps to better myself and my surroundings I've just moved to a place called Bendigo in Victoria Australia from a little town called Bowen in Queensland Australia population about 8000...
Much more opportunities and I'm spending some time with my dad who is 76 years I haven't seen him much during my life and I'm 41 years old now and this helps again I can't thank you enough please have the best day possible hey my mindset is slowly changing here is a better place than there...
@@ET-si7rl many reasons but looking forward now thankfully... Thankyou 💓
I've been depressed and socially isolated for years, I can understand what they are going through.
Stay strong.
I am currently going through a similar situation. Being forced to be someone you're not just to satisfy others, and having many hopes and dreams shattered. Anyone is bound to shutdown emotionally.. I guess being optimistic and looking to a brighter future is the best course of action for people struggling with this.
Amazing video, you explained it all very well!
Jess F "being forced to be someone you're not just to satisfy others"...damn. That really speaks to me.
I am a hikikomori for the past 6 years. I didn’t even know that there is a term for this condition. I am now 26 years old and I am learning programming throw internet so I can support my self financially. This is the only solution I can suggest. Create an online school in Japan and give this people the opportunity to work from there computers so they can live there lives as they see fit.
Which programming do you learn?
Human Simulator i agree with you man.
What language are you learning?
what programming language are you learning?? and where are you from?
I'm American, and 9 years ago I developed this at 21. I had a mental breakdown at work, a call center, and left never to return. At first I claimed FMLA and collected disability insurance. To get that FMLA approval I had to burn a bridge with my GP doctor since I was a child, because the scorn I felt from her was very heavy and I would feel shame showing my face there again. After a 2 years of being confined to my room, the disability insurance and unemployment checks ran out, and I had to beg my mother to take me back because I could not handle the pressures of society. It took over a month of desperation, and I do not feel proud about this. It took me another 2 years, a total of 4, to finally muster the courage to go back out and find a job at 25. My health during that time declined rapidly and I knew I could not remain that way or I would probably die in my sleep one night. What scares me the most was how easy it was to be content with it, and how easily my thought process falls back to it from time to time. To this day I still feel tempted to just find a way to fuck off again. But if there were no way to support myself financially, I would be homeless. A homeless hikkikomori? I wonder what you would call that...
issact an orphan is what you would call that. Lol
There is no right or wrong way to live life, there's many ways to earn money that don't involve going to "work" and there's ways to have a home that don't involve paying for rent & utilities. It's called going off grid.
Society loves making ppl feel badly for not wanting to live like the masses. But it's our life. And we must live it the way that makes us happiest. Best wishes to you. You aren't alone.
im from Spain and I understand this behaviour. i always been isolated. But know I try go out my apartment every day, and discover other ways of feel myself safe outside. Nature walks are helpful.
The only way Japan will solve this problem is if the old people in the Japanese government let go of the old views on how people should work and STRONGLY enforce appropriate 9-5 work restrictions and at least 1 day off a week. The Japanese population is immensely overworked and there is little oversight preventing bosses from pressuring their employees to spend nearly all their time working, it's outrageous and it's also affecting their population growth, because men have very little time to develop social skills with women or time to support a relationship. But the government is too short-sighted to realize this, all they see is the immediate result in GDP that restricting the work hours would have, unable to see how it would be better in the long run.
Agreed. And it's not that they have to work that much, it's just that they have to STAY at work that much. And even then, they HAVE to go to drink a beer with their bosses.
If you consistently work more then 60, 70, 80 hours a week and still balance all of your personal life without time off you will eventually breakdown period.
Sir Long Dickman Junior not true. My dad doesn't break down; he just takes out his anger and frustration on anyone around him at the time... Lol
Business owner that works all too much. But he trucks on. I assume it different when you're not running a company.
Cory Goodman I don't know that that would be considered a "healthy" coping mechanism.
When we wear a mask everyday eventually we don't recognize our own face.
I've actually been living like this since last 8 years, i stay in my room all day and only go outside if i want to eat a special meal or buy some electronics.
Do you have a virtual life? Do you live vicariously through movies or video games?
graduated from high school in 2009...2017 and I haven't done shit with my life...no work, no school, no friends...Shenron have mercy on my soul...
Danni Wilson you are not alone brother...
Danni Wilson I dropped out my first year of highschool now I never left my room
Danni Wilson get a damn job
Everything Anime loser go to school
The only place a man can truly be himself in a sick society is when he is completely alone.
Linda Lowther just shhh you will understand in the future
RandomQuestion huh what
When you have unreachable standards, everything seems hopeless. You can never do it to the degree that you need to, so you give up on everything. Your life is dominated by frustration and hopelessness. You put off living. It's like this frustration you have with your inability to live up to the image you've been handed is projected onto everyone and everything around you. Life is overwhelming, confusing, and it just never works right. I didn't have a definition for it but this documentary definitely describes me. To the letter. It's odd that the same situation in Japan would be what teaches me about my own situation. I think people who try to help these people make a mistake when they pressure them into not pressuring themselves. The problem is the way they have been taught to think. There is a lot of pressure to succeed, and that pressure often leads to the exact opposite of what it was supposed to achieve. They need freedom to be themselves, to live life rather then perform it.
Well said.
You mean the standards they have for themselves. Standards others have for us are meaningless if we are comfortable with our own personal goals. I think deep down its not that they let others down but they've let themselves down. They find it impossible to live up to the image they have of themselves as they think they should be .
i think its both
2 years? Filthy casual...
I can identify. While not Hikkikomori, I suffer chronic debilitating anxiety. I've been told I'm a talented artist, but the expectations of creating good art is too much for me even though I used to love doing it. I can't seem to calm my mind enough to do it. When I leave the house its usually either dark outside, or I leave during the day to hike in the woods away from people. Partly I have a hard to relating to, or understanding people. I've watched this video many times and sometimes cried while I watched it. I've no idea where to go for help.
Billy Bimkins Sorry to hear that :( i will be praying for you. You got this :)
I'll be keeping you in my prayers... I'm sorry that this is happening
Very good information, dare I say, better than the BBC documentary (Mystery of the missing Million).
Best video on this so far. There was a BBC program on this subject that whose host was totally obnoxious. At one point he interviews someone with this problem in such an intrusive manner. He went into the guy’s bedroom (his one sanctuary) and bugged him with dumb almost judgmental questions that shed no light on the topic. It makes me mad just thinking about that jackass.
I just saw it a couple of days ago, such a disrespectful dude.
I am Hikikomori out of circumstance namely retirement. Looking back 7 decades with several successful professions, I feel truly like a prisoner running the gauntlet fighting off blows insults bullying every day, fighting a great battle. The great reserves of male youthful energy made this possible, yet take away the great need for money, death knocking at my door as relentless aging plunders my body then it is easy to become Hikikomori or AUTISTIC. My pull toward isolation was always there and my hyper sensitivity to sounds lights noise social interactions ~~ all from birth ~~ yet when I grew up midcentury there was hope for the future a reason to fight and overcome. I view my Hikikomore as survival now, my refuge in this increasingly brutal social conforming society dancing with biosphere collapse human extinction!!
You get it. A bit angry, but we all are. I understand.
It always motivates and makes me happy to watch a youtuber for a long time and witness them grow and improve.
Amazing content as always, thanks Scott.
I think part of the reason this happens is because the business world forgets people are people. People are not machine's. Also the social and political pressures can isolate people who disagree with them. In this world the diversity of perspectives are becoming less acceptable and are shund. If you do not agree with the main excepted ideas, then you do not have a place to exist. If you wanted to help people like this, you would have to bring them together.
The more I'm around people and all their meanness, selfishness and cruelty,the more I stay home alone . Also,the internet is full to the brim with people just as bad if not worse just being as mean as they can to others via the keyboard.
Plissa Barrett it seems that way.
one in thousand ppl are ok. u will find them. :) I too hate people though.
@ inan other comment you atracked hikikomoris here you wrote in a normal way. Whats wrong with you ^^? And yes there are therapie groups in nearly every country for such problems.
Nice informative video.. Never heard of this phenomenon before, this vid just popped up in my recommended list. Interesting video and well explained.. Liked and subbed to your channel.
I swear I only found this recently by pure chance! I had no idea that there was a word for my current lifestyle although there was "shut in, recluse" etc. anyway when I watched this, my heart dropped when i realized I'm not alone.. I lost time and now I'm trying to figure out how long I've been here.. I need help. thank you for posting this, this inspired me to change. I hope I never come back to this shitty slum. I'm not religious but I pray to the cosmos that everyone suffering from this mentality can break their own personal chains binding them to their own little hide away.
And too you the reader who took their time to read my comment I thank you sincerely, please reach out to someone that needs help, it only takes a little bit of light to brighten a dark and empty world. God's know I need it..
aStonedIndian good luck friend
I really advise you to get a job. I failed university 3 times, not because I was failing classes, but because I couldn't make myself continue going to classes. I was living in my small room for a long time. I tried meeting with psychologist, but it was useless for me. What pushed me forward was getting a job and becoming self sufficient. I still struggle a lot with my self identity. And some days are better than others. But I am much less focused on what society expects and just live the life I want. Having own resources makes all the difference.
Japan is a mercilessly competitive society, full of human, and otherwise, robots mindlessly going about their meaningless chores. Ironically enough, those socially isolated people may be the lucky ones, without realizing it. They have the chance (and the disposal time) to explore the inner dimensions of the human experience; and ultimately contribute to a more profound understanding of what it means to be truly alive; before self conscious Artificial Intelligence turns all of us into obsolete, carbon-based life forms.
@Ronnie U are so fucking wrong my friend
Bullshit. They're wasting their days playing videogames and jerking off to hentai.
@@StylizedKitsune then why the hell we are here just to word hard to suffer? We don't want human life
Why do we need to look at your face for 30 min to get the info?
It's called league of legends in English
Sad... lol I'm here bc my client crashed
so this is where internet trolls are born
LOL
How can you fix a problem when it's tightly ingrained into the culture of Japan? So much pressure to have an outside face which is not your authentic self, of course there will be a lot of Japanese men that will crack from that pressure, that they would rather shut themselves indoors, than deal with that pressure. A man can only truly be a man when he's authentic. Take that away and you take away his identity as a man.
That Tatamei social disposition is universal. I worked in the Hotel industry for over 10 years and that's what we're taught from day one. Smile constantly. Leave the worries at home. Make yourself available. Be productive. Problem solve. Be accountable.Preserve. I think the difference is that in Japan you have to do this day in and day out. No breaks.While in the states we will take a break from putting up a front at work or in public every now and then. And when do the social disapproval isn't as soul crushing or as much of a taboo. Yea it might be for a bit. But people get over it and are more understanding. I think in Japan a slip up at work or goofing off in public might get you a label that is socially permanent. That is a lot of pressure on the human psyche.
depression mixed with the japanese culture of NOT showing bad feelings at all, swallowing them constantly....and on top of that it is a 'sin', not funtionning right within the society.....so whats left for them, other than stay 'hidden/nonexistent' for the community....
I have to say, that as someone who suffers from Major Depressive Disorder, Chronic Anxiety Disorder, Adult Attention Deficit Disorder, and a personality of an INFP, if I were to live in Japan, I would probably develop into a Hikikomori. However, my parents were VERY against me staying in the home. My mother actually found me my first job, in fear that I would never find one since I was so anti-social in school. Now, I can debate if that was good, or bad, because during my upbringing, I was exposed to parents who had VERY narcissistic and mentally abusive personalities towards each other and me and my siblings. But, if I were never provided with that first job, I would have never met my future husband. At the age of 18, I never had a boyfriend, and of course, was not sexually active. Now, I met my husband at my first workplace, and ended up moving in with him after only dating for a year. He seemed to understand me, and helped me realize that I needed professional help.. I have been with him now, dating/married/owning a home for over 15 years now. The thing that really helped me wasn't someone to talk to, but being recommended a doctor who actually wanted to treat me with pharmaceuticals. I know, in the US, pharmaceuticals is a HUGE business. I am being treated with RX drugs for my depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, and ADD..... and in my case (thankfully) I am considered a success story. I guess, all that being said, I want to know if Japanese society accepts or shuns help for mental heath being treated by drugs? Honestly, I would most likely be dead right now if I were not prescribed the medicines I am on right now for all of the chemical imbalances. Your thoughts? Do you think that, if medicine has not been tried yet in Japan, could it possibly be a start in really treating those diagnosed with Hikikomori? Thank you so much for posing this video.
Interesting, I've spent most of my life isolating myself. When I was a kid, all I did was play video games. Even when I did go outside for fun it was usually in the winter or in the rain so that I wouldn't encounter anyone. I became depressed as a teen and as a young adult I isolated myself further. I still isolate myself but I've found true happiness within the last year or so. I'm quite content being a shut in. I hope anyone reading this who is a shut in finds happiness too. Being a shut in can be enjoyable, just make sure your needs are met and you'll be able to self actualize. It is a wonderful feeling when you truly learn who you are and appreciate what you have. I know I have it good compared to others and I know things can be hard, but you can do it!
Looks like I am reading my own biography. Better be alone than in bad company. Better be free than cucked by life
Doctor Claw u guys r my ppl lol
exactly the same, especially with meditation practice. I'm more free now than I've ever been.
There's always a dark side to every country
I watched your Hikikomori episode. Very well done. Thank you so much for making this video.
(Doctor Here) I think there are many causes of this behavior. In many hikikomori documentaries, the main reason was insurmountable stress and social expectations. These can lead to depression, lack of self worth, and avoidant personality disorder (You wanna mingle but too afraid because of expectations etc.) As for me, it was depression. After I got my license to practice, my newly pregnant fiance cheated on me and aborted our baby. I shut myself inside my unit for a year playing world of warcraft just to escape reality and the expectation to train as a specialist. It was a deep depression, thankfully, I sought help and took meds and exercised (this is the most underrated antidepressant of all, natural endorphins are bomb.. they can revise your outlook in life in a few lifts). I recovered and found purpose again to serve people. Thankfully, I met my now wife during that crisis and propelled me to become a better person. To my dearest shut ins: I know life is unfair and scary, and we blame the society or other people for our problems. But at the end of the day, it is our responsibility what happens next. First thing to do is to seek help. And please dont give up. Give opportunities for yourself to experience more about life, to learn from struggles, and to enjoy small successes. Afterall, what is life without problems. A life without challenges is like not living at all. Seek help first then understand what you can do and accept your weaknesses. Harness your strength to improve yourself and yourself only, not for the sake of anyone or the society. You can do it!
God bless and it's great life is great for you now:)
Wow very encouraging. Glad to hear that you're doing well now!
My dad would kill me if I were to lock myself in my room for even a day, I swear.
This reminded me of the anime Welcome to the NHK where the main character himself is a hikikomori. Great anime and highly recommend it.
Eh, I have always wanted to watch that, and it's like chaos head as well, but I am pretty sure that nhk is more like hikikomori than chaos head is.
I wouldn't say I've experience strict Hikikomori but I used to be a professional musicians in Toronto. My gf cheated with me, my bassist started dating my ex, I was feeling very depressed and started spending most night just high by myself, wandering the streets at night or playing video games. I left Toronto and lived in the woods of Newfoundland for about a month. I was so isolated I started hallucinating people staring in at me from the trees of my camp or when I walked the trails. After I lived with my parents, just kept to myself, smoking and not doing much. I stopped playing music completely and decided to go back to school for science, which I did, but by the end I was back to just being in my apartment alone or wandering the streets at night while high and avoiding everyone at school. Afterwards I didn't do anything with the degree and lived with my parents and ubered at night. I got a good job from ubering a recruiter and now have my own place and a workplace to socialize in but I still just go home after everyday. I really dislike being around people now but also feel lonely. I was asked to bring drums to a work event and jammed with some people. People said "with skills like that why the hell are you here?" and "Why aren't you someone?" and I know they meant it as a compliment but it just hits a big ball of sadness that I can't seem to unravel and I just wanted to tell them "how about shut the fuck up?" It's hard to deal with life when too many things hit the fan, especially if you're already suffering from mental illness. The part about the toy car guy got to me because I understand his fear of showing his skills to the world.
TheGreatMoonFrog that was one depressing ride from beginning to end, you alright mate?
Honeysmile13 I am doing ok. Better then I have been in a long while which is good. The job gives me stability and independence and they also appreciate the skills I bring so it's generally a positive experience. Depression and regret still plague me but while I wish some things we different I realize they could also be worse so I'm just trying to be grateful for what I have. Thanks for caring though. You comment has been on my mind most of the day.
Good to know you’re doing well. Hope Things get better. Rooting for you.
Wait don't musicians have groupies? I'm sure you and your friends had fun swapping groupies. Don't musicians share women all of the time? So why surprise that women share themselves with other men? I don't get artsy people. Bunch of drama queens and drama kings. All I read was "An ex-musician turned junkie due to cheating girlfriend and ex dating best friend." Typical US story. Sorry but won't get sympathy from me. There are people in this world suffering from far worse. Depression isn't a fucking disabilities like Autism or Dyslexia or other more limiting factors. Depression is some shit normies created to steal government assistance programs away from those of us with real disabilities.
I know the "What are you doing here?" or "Why aren't you somebody? (meaning a star) questions well. Typical crap questions from non musicians. I got sick of hearing it so I wound up with a stock answer for them. "Because you aren't the CEO of Capitol Records." Keep on keeping on. I hope it gets better for you.
I never realized how much I fit the Hikikomori bill until now. :0 I graduated University level education with Bachelor's degree almost a year ago and didn't look for work after. I've been a shut-in, not working ever since, I'm even only in my room almost all of the time. I only get out of the house about once a week, trying to keep up the skills I learned from college with a couple friends. My social skills are near mediocre, I don't know how I manage to put on a fake happy face when I do go see people. This documentary hits home so much. Now, I live in the US (always have), so the culture isn't all that much the same as it is in Japan, but my reasons for being this way aren't too far off from the same and in many ways these two countries aren't all too different in many areas.
While I was in college, I was studying game art, at first it was really fun, I started at a school where it was a lot more team-oriented, family based, we're all in this together, work hard together... but then my school shut down and I had to transfer to a different branch, one that was in the big city (I hated driving there, by the way), this school was a lot more "every man for himself", compete with each other, friendly to your face, but stab you in the back for their own gain. Not only were the students more stuck up, but there were a few teachers that continually reminded you that you needed to be up to Triple A standards by the time you leave, or you wasted your time and money being here and you'd never make it in the industry anyway. Just feeling the unimpressed glances from those professors would be enough to make me want to give up. I was already a senior when I dealt with all of that, so I felt like there was not much time to make sure I could be up to those standards, I would look around and see how much all of my colleagues were so much better than me, even some underclassmen. Even now, I feel extreme anxiety when I see great work. If you can tell where this story goes, you'll have been able to figure out that I shut down after feeling like I'd never amount to anything. The only thing I was ever good at was art, and If I'm not good enough with that, what can I even do? I doubt my abilities more and more everyday, I doubt my abilities with even the most simplest of tasks. Even after all of that, do you know how hard it is to find work with a bachelor's degree? A game design one, no less? I feel like, if I joined the work force, I'd only be a detriment. I'm extremely slow when I work, too, and a perfectionist. Who would even want to hire someone like that?
The thing is, being that anti-social is so looked down upon here, that I have no choice but to force myself out of the house, even the little amount I do, and do things for my mother, or they probably would have kicked me out by now. I do have to leave the room to get my own food, because sure as heck no one would bring it to my door or anything. My mom gets super pissed if I try to convince her to not make me go out to get the groceries for everyone. (She only ever even wants to talk to me to do shit for her. That's probably another reason I don't like to go downstairs, or out of my room in general, I just don't want to deal with my family most of the time.) I tell her I'll even do anything indoors for her if it means I don't have to go to the grocery store. I'm so anti social that I don't even like communicating online anymore. I spend most of my time sleeping because I can't stand to see how successful everyone around me is. I'm pretty sure most of this is linked to my depression, but the other things that cause that is a story for another occasion.
Lastly, it's honestly so sad for me to see that so many people are struggling with this, just like me. It's enough to make me feel choked up...
Pachinko Bibi how do you get money to survive?
sacrde His Mom. Mine too, respectively.
Aw come on, you can do this !
You seem to have a lot of skills under your belt ! And seem to be going through a rough time !
You can ride this through !
FRAGRANCE OF JANNAH Such sweet sentiments. 💕 They mean so well.
Adia Noeta Thanks, everyone stumbles in life and we all need a gentle push in the right direction sometimes ! : D
I completely understand these people. I've been a NEET/Hiki on and off for quite a while. Depression, anxiety, and other problems like that can ruin a person's entire life.
the shitty economy isn't helping either right
Yeah.
Hikikomori = acute social withdrawal.
Also, if you're interested, you might wanna look up the book
"Shutting Out the Sun: How Japan Created its Own Lost Generation"
Also, I firmly believe its a social illness, not a mental one.
I look at it like an emergency sanity maneuver.
Like how a device will go into sleep mode when it's about to run out of power? This is how people keep themselves from losing their personality, which is basically just another word for sanity, or dignity.
A whole generation of people being told to: 'Fake it til you make it.'
And then they respond: 'But I'm honest.'
But to that they get the apathetic: 'Hey, it's this or nothin!!! What are you gonna do, just never leave your house?! LOSER?!'
And to that they respond: 'Okay. Let's go with that.'
Everyone strives to be accepted by their environment, but many also to strive to retain their earnesty. And this is the one place where they fit both niches. No how much the world changes, there's always the option to boycott in one way or another. Suicide being the final one.
I was a hikikomori, my contract ended and i couldn't find a job as time pass i live off my saving for almost 2 years, around the time my pet passed away and I stay in my room, sometimes it's just so hard to find a job were hundred if not thousand others are compete for the same position... as time went on I feel more and more depressed and lost confident of looking for work. Then one day i was lucky an employer check out the resume i put out online back a year ago and ask me for an interview, i know i couldn't let this chance pass, i landed the job and i'm grateful, i try my best and working hard everyday and never stop learning.
Congrats!!!
It's weird how people think the hikikomori condition only happens in Japan, I'm a hikikomori and I live in the west. We don't use that word of course we tend to say "recluse" or "hermit" or socially awkward person, maybe sociopath, I don't know.
Richard Cee I don't think sociopath has much to do with being a shut in, usually sociopaths are very good with people, can have good jobs, are very smart. Anti social, or a severe bi polar would be closer to a shut in possibly if they were in the depression state of a manic episode. Then again it all depends on there personality as a whole, every person with those disorders are different. Still sad if anyone has any of them to begin with. Must be horrible to live in a prison that has no walls except the ones created by your mind.
Neither anti social nor bipolar are shut ins. To put it more simply anti social personality disorder are usually criminal isn their behavior and bipolar folk can be energetic and outgoing when they're manic and then later become depressed. A hikikomori is in a state of shame and fear, they are not technically depressed they just refuse to deal with life on life's terms.
Thats not anti-social or sociopath in the psychology diagnostic book(dsm-v). Those are the symptoms from avoidant personality disorder and in a severe case its social anxiety. I suffer with social anxiety, i almost ended up being trapped in my own house because ive lost all skills to socialize. I used to not be able to even trust or communicate with my family members. Thank god 5 years later i got the help i needed.
I go outside, have friends and people who actually cares about me but i will always have my fear or anxiety kicks once in a while. I have this highschool counselor probably the best counselor ive ever met that makes me feel better after all of this madness.
I’m kinda a shut in,
I only go out for school and rarely to buy video games,
In the summer i stay home in my room for weeks without going out.
Your parents must be very happy.
gamwpanagia yes they are lol
sounds normal
I'm ugly and physically repulsive, so that's why I stay in myself.
Personally i hate the outside world I prefer to stay in my comfy safe room where no one can make me sad, also there isn't anything fun to do outside for me
OMG There's actually a term for this!! During my final year at Uni I had a Japanese flat mate - Kaoru - who would study all night and hardly ever come out of her room during the day. She wasn't like this in the beginning of the year. She got into an argument with her thesis supervisor and would like, lock herself away in her room. The way she described her 'argument' though sounded like constructive criticism. As a Kiwi I thought she just had anti social anxiety problems but I think it was 'hikikimori'. Like you could hear her walking through the hallway at night or boiling water in the kitchen at 2am. After her incident she like never came out of her room, seriously! Damn I wish I had been more supportive, sad.
so hikikomori is depression right? not wanting to go out, just locked up inside your room.. always feeling fatigued even though you had lots of sleep.
Jace McBeardy sounds more like agoraphobia
Probably both to some degree
its probably a mix of the two. I'm studying psych and though I'm not an expert and have much to learn I feel it is probably both agoraphobia and depression based on the symptoms. Some people such as myself have moderate to severe depression and feel better when they are around people some are the opposite and some people go back and forth depending on the day. I would imagine the agoraphobia comes from the high stakes and pressure for success. If you have a fear for failure how might one cope with this? Well maybe by not doing anything, then how would you possibly fail at anything. I can't imagine what this could feel like. Probably similar to depression though and the lack of motivation that comes with it. Ughhh my heart goes out to anyone going through that :(
Hikikimori isn't just endemic to japan, I see this here in the U.S. quite often.
In th US it's more the "cool" thing to do. Socializing on RUclips for example ;-)
It's a global crisis
In North America, many people suffer from depression, which is equally debilitating. There is no society that’s truly happy or unhappy.
True, yet no society does a thing. Hikikomori, modern day hermits, is in Western Countries. Just not recognised as such . Plus in the 30 odd years years since it has been diagnosed it is no longer only young men but also women and people of all ages that have this 'style of life.' Society has changed, loneliness is now such an issue certain countries have ministries or departments of loneliness You can have family but they can be half the world away. Wealth has ruined the need for people to rely on each other. Wealth has not only widened the gap between first world and third world countries but widened the gap between those within the same country. Some appear to be successful and others just see themselves as losers.
Computers and enabling relatives seem to prolong the isolation. Perfectionism can trap sensitive people into a prison. I see them as surviving and pray their despondency does not lead to suicide. Particularly in Japan where societal norms are demanding I can empathize with their conflicted sense of self worth. I wonder if they have any hope?
hmm.. being socially isolated for a while is weird.. (if one is passive with watching yt videos, without not really, speaking/writing, listen to music hmm or just checking out what people say www.reddit.com/r/SuicideWatch/new/ its starts to hurt, in the brain, its a weird feeling..) but atleast one lives free, one is maybe not tied to on the clock, and one starts to look at, just other people in general, ruclips.net/video/ElG5-nXD0B8/видео.html&list because one isnt tied to going to work.. work is healthy, but hikkikomories are.. just people like everyone else, in a sense they are protesting agaianst the current system in a way.. www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/new/, you know whats the right way to live.. if you had more freedom/were free, what would you do? i suppose.. this modern idea of work is exausting.. why dont they get a new system/reduced hours for full time, maybe then hikkies would get motivated to go outside, most hikkies arent bad people i reckon.., modern society/school is brainwashing.. elites controll so much money.. ruclips.net/video/F2XhbnY6evY/видео.html
I totally understand this, for I have worked retail for 24 years. Japanese work world is much more severe than the U.S. so I can't fully understand the culture pressure but none the less I feel like I want crawl into a hole and not come out.
in japan its called Hikikomori , in the USA some of them are called Homeless, at least they have family that trys to help in the USA your own family throws you away like and old peace of broken furniture.
They are also called"neet"?
@Griffiith Multiple encampments numbering in the hundreds in every major metro city?
I dunno about anybody else, but guitar sure as hell helped my confidence. Hikikomori sounds like _extreme_ social anxiety, speaking from experience, kindness goes a long way. One thing that I've learned is that who you are isn't important so long as you know who you _want_ to be. You eventually *become* the person you want to be if you keep that perception of yourself at the forefront of your mind and work for it. "Rome wasn't built in a day", neither is confidence nor self-perception. Take it easy, folks, stay strong...
rdf rdf
Amen!
Thank you
cardboardclub Don't thank me, make it happen, that'll be thanks enough... :)
jukijunk Damn right! :)
rdf rdf wow. That's really profound. I gotta remember this now.
My mother was like this. She didn't have friends for most of her life. She was the type that shut the drapes tightly and never socialized, unless she had to; at weddings, or funerals. My dad was the one who went out of his way to talk to people. When he had a brain aneurysm, my mom took care of him for 13 years, as he couldn't walk, or speak. In that time, she had to talk to nurses, etc. Then she began socializing with our neighbors. She didn't truly become herself until my dad died. At first she was making all the decisions, which she was afraid to do. But she slowly came out of her shell. She enjoyed a few happy years until she slowly succumbed to dementia.
She married at 19, had 5 kids, and only had a few years of experiencing independence until her brain slowly stopped working. If you are an introvert but are suffering, seek help. Time goes by so fast.
I’m a psychologist and want to give you a very big thank you. This topic can be very difficult to explain to mental health workers from a different culture. A intern of my was working with an individual who had a history of this in Japan. The intern had a difficult time distinguishing between agoraphobia and Hikikomoria. It wasn’t until your video he was able to full understand the differences. Thank you for your beautifully done and considerate video
There is a Korean movie called "cast away on the moon" about a hikikomori girl and a suicidal man. It's good. I recommend it.
I LOVED that movie when it came out. At that time I couldn't really understand it, but as the years have gone by and I became a recluse myself, I get it now. It was, strictly speaking, fucking beautiful and speaks volumes about society, especially in asian countries.
lol I'm definately an American Hikikomori.
I'm alone since 2010, still go jogging but it's pretty much a life of avoiding others and right wing ideas. There's no family, no nothing
yet your most recently liked video is a Trump speech to U.S Military? don't try and act like you are a Hikikomori
YEAH! Only Japanese people can be Hikikomori!
Midge in the video he said there was even cases of hikikomori in the U.S so that isn't true, I just feel like the type of people who say they are hikikomori or display traits of a hikikomori are usually the poser type
Sam It was sarcasm but oh well.
Pinku Pantsu My bad.
I've had more problems being around people. Less people the better.
New subscriber here, what an amazing channel, so informative getting to know the real Japan life. The video editing is on point by the way ☺️
nice piece of journalism
My brother is Hikikomori. In New Zealand. We are both half Japanese. He has severe gaming addiction and my parents had been his enablers for 6 years now since he finished school.
And now they might loose all their customers due to Covid. He is a leech on them. Now with morbid obesity, gout from eating junk food and no where to get help I don't know what I can do to convince him to work to help my parents. I left home 7 years ago. Each time I return it gets worse.
Sounds like he needs an intervention. Video game and food addiction are very serious. He needs a rock bottom.
welcome to NHK
It's basically depression, like a deep depression and anxiety.
Captain Ford not exactly. With depression one doesn't want to do anything. Hikkikomori enjoys their hobbies in their room.
Captain Ford and when that hobby felt like it is no longer rewarding deppression n anxiety comes in.
Society is hell
And no one cares
Hikikomori are not shutins
They are humans who realized what society was about
The way you make it sound... you are describing Hippies... Japanese Hippies... or I don't know I wasn't around for the hippy era... -_- ... others label them hermits... man or woman caves ... choice isolation... Japan is good at that one.
Crybaby
@@BlackCroLong Bardok the Saiyan was the crybaby.He got his ass kicked just like you.
Im sorry but you sound like a loser
@@untakencareofdeath_4117 You're the loser "lemon pie" and you are not sorry.
Hikikomori is a result from any insecurity. I can relate to that because once i felt like i didnt want to go out from my room or meet people. That time i more familiar with "anxiety disorder/probelm". So i thought i have that problem. And i think hikikomori is one of the result from anxiety problem
This is happening in other countries too
@Anita Wen, Yeah... but he said it doesn't happen to the extent as it does in Japan. I don't think what he said is neccesarily true because hikikomori isn't talked about nearly as much in other countries as it is talked about in Japan. So... we really don't know how often it happens in other countries and for him to make such a claim is dumb.
I have suffered with agoraphobia, and anxiety entire life. I do not leave the house unless I am on xanax bars. I would not wish this hell on anyone. Oh..and for these ignorant people in the comments that say things like we are lazy, losers, moochers, etc...you are so wrong. I worked from age 10-29 and have 140 IQ with college degree. Until you walk a mile in me or any of these people's shoes please stfu.
Hyuga kain777 I feel you man. I've had this worsening for myself since I got out of High school 2 years ago.
same...i couldnt cope with family success and stress. dropped out of law school and just locked myself away and survived on a few investments....now i like my memories of friends girlfriends etc but i just have no desire to leave my apartment
I can relate. Same for me too after witnessing a homicides, almost getting killed myself, and a rough divorce. I cant interact with people in person. Depression isn't helping either
This is not strictly Japanese. I know of a man who has spent his adult life in his mothers apartment. Age 14, one day he came home from school and refused ever to leave the apartment again. I heard this from his sister. Something happened or he saw something and would never speak about it. He just shut down and shut himself away.
In any case, it is incredibly sad. Personally I believe we only have one life to live. And it is an illness that society as a whole has created. It's criminal. I really feel for anyone going through mental illness that is imposed by the way society is built.