Hikikomori

Hikikomori is a Japanese term for reclusive adolescents or adults who withdraw from social life, often seeking extreme degrees of isolation and confinement; the word refers to both the sociological phenomenon and the individuals belonging to this group, sometimes described as modern hermits. It has been a growing problem in Japan since the 1990s, with estimates suggesting over a million people affected, and similar cases have since been reported elsewhere in the world. Its key characteristics are a marked avoidance of social situations, a retreat into one's home, often a single room, for at least six months, and significant functional impairment or distress; it is not itself a formal psychiatric diagnosis but can co-occur with conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders or developmental disorders. Its causes are considered complex and multifaceted, spanning individual psychological vulnerabilities such as a history of bullying or high sensitivity to shame, family dynamics, and broader societal pressures around education and employment.