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The word hikikomori is a Japanese term for people who withdraw from society. They may stay inside their homes for months at a time, sometimes in a single room. They often focus on things like television or video games and avoid the outside world.
Japan has a concept called hikikomori, referring to extreme shut-ins. If someone stays at home for months at a time, particularly if they stay in a single room, they are experiencing hikikomori. They’re locked into TV and video games and ignoring the outside world.
Ten years ago, many international news stories reported on hikikomori with shock. Since then, feelings of loneliness have become a common issue in many countries. Today, we can look at Japan's various attempts to address loneliness. These ideas might offer helpful clues for others around the world.
In 1999, a Japanese TV show ran an unusual experiment. A contestant named Tomoaki Hamatsu had to survive for over a year without ever leaving an apartment. He was not allowed to get a normal job. Instead, his only way to get things he needed was to win magazine competitions and get the prizes.
The network gave him only a few crackers to start. He had no clothes. To get food and supplies, he had to win contests. He never managed to win any clothes, so he stayed naked for the entire challenge. But he did win some food. After ten months, he won toilet paper. After more than a year, he had won enough different items that the show said he had succeeded.
Hamatsu thought the TV crew was filming a documentary to be shown later. He later learned they had been broadcasting his life on live TV every week without telling him. To hide his body from viewers, they placed a picture of an eggplant over him on the screen.