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Hikikomori is also a minor phenomenon in Italy. It seems that a positive family environment, unchecked Internet consumption and bleak job prospects play a major

Hikikomori is also a minor phenomenon in Italy. It seems that a positive family environment, unchecked Internet consumption and bleak job prospects play a major role. Welcome to NHK is inspired by a much sadder book, but the anime captures the hikikomori mindset well enough.

sdrothrock 10y ago
> It seems that a positive family environment This alone seems to suggest that the Italian version may be completely different; hikikomori isolate themselves from their families as well, which is one of the very weird traits about it for Japanese people.
- Jtsummers 10y ago
  Is a negative family environment common/typical/frequent for the hikikomori?
  - hkmurakami 10y ago
    It's the overprotective and overcaring parents who enable this behavior in the first place.
    - brilliantcode 10y ago
      I disagree. It's the cultural reaction of being self-resilient and maintaining face against the structural pressures that capitalism presents in economies that started to stagnate since the early 90s. The evidence I see to support the observation above is the recent rise of "Wae To Ri" in South Korea since the economy started to stagnate post Asian Financial crisis. It's identical to hikkikomori. I see this in other economically stagnant European countries as well, for example in Spain or Portugal where 1/2 young people are unemployed.
      - mixedCase 10y ago
        > It's the cultural reaction of being self-resilient and maintaining face against the structural pressures that capitalism presents in economies that started to stagnate since the early 90s. Or maybe the kid simply has been pampered all his life and has never been properly incentivized at working towards independence. Occam's razor and all.
        borplefark 10y ago
        >the kid We're talking about millions of people. When you get to scale that large, you are talking about society and culture, not individual choices. To have millions of people change their behavior is to change the society and culture.
        tgragnato 10y ago
        I'm not aware if he is referring to the Japanese or the Italian phenomena (they have common roots but are very different). In Italy, I see many friends entrapped in this kind of behaviour, the major causes are: - The corruption of the bankers that are stealing an increasing quantity of money from the people (regardless if you're poor or rich or if you work or not). This factor is not only creating a major problem for the younger, but is a concurring cause of concern for the other generations as well: they're committing suicide more and more and more often than ever before. - The rejection of both the cultural roots of christianity and consumerism, combined with a strict thinking about what is considered an accepted social behaviour and a strict regulation of the market to prevent if from a total collapse. - An unrestricted and unregulated immigration crisis that provides an ever cheaper quantity of individuals willing to work for a miserable wage. - Least but not least the total incompetence of the government and the EU, both blocked by a strict thought of political correctness that keeps them from applying needed actions that would properly respond to changes in the local and global, economical and geopolitical landscape. It is indeed a problem of the culture of the society, and the hikikomori phenomena is only one of the consequences of a society that is forced to change, but is not able to do it properly.
        mixedCase 10y ago
- hkmurakami 10y ago
  As with anything, there's a spectrum to these things. Some will interact positively with their family but won't venture out of the house at all. Some might occasionally go out of the house as well. The western media's portrayal is a bit extreme and sensationalist (surprise!).

sdrothrock 10y ago

> It seems that a positive family environment This alone seems to suggest that the Italian version may be completely different; hikikomori isolate themselves from their families as well, which is one of the very weird traits about it for Japanese people.

Jtsummers 10y ago
Is a negative family environment common/typical/frequent for the hikikomori?
- hkmurakami 10y ago
  It's the overprotective and overcaring parents who enable this behavior in the first place.
  - brilliantcode 10y ago
    I disagree. It's the cultural reaction of being self-resilient and maintaining face against the structural pressures that capitalism presents in economies that started to stagnate since the early 90s. The evidence I see to support the observation above is the recent rise of "Wae To Ri" in South Korea since the economy started to stagnate post Asian Financial crisis. It's identical to hikkikomori. I see this in other economically stagnant European countries as well, for example in Spain or Portugal where 1/2 young people are unemployed.
    - mixedCase 10y ago
      > It's the cultural reaction of being self-resilient and maintaining face against the structural pressures that capitalism presents in economies that started to stagnate since the early 90s. Or maybe the kid simply has been pampered all his life and has never been properly incentivized at working towards independence. Occam's razor and all.
      - borplefark 10y ago
        >the kid We're talking about millions of people. When you get to scale that large, you are talking about society and culture, not individual choices. To have millions of people change their behavior is to change the society and culture.
        tgragnato 10y ago
        I'm not aware if he is referring to the Japanese or the Italian phenomena (they have common roots but are very different). In Italy, I see many friends entrapped in this kind of behaviour, the major causes are: - The corruption of the bankers that are stealing an increasing quantity of money from the people (regardless if you're poor or rich or if you work or not). This factor is not only creating a major problem for the younger, but is a concurring cause of concern for the other generations as well: they're committing suicide more and more and more often than ever before. - The rejection of both the cultural roots of christianity and consumerism, combined with a strict thinking about what is considered an accepted social behaviour and a strict regulation of the market to prevent if from a total collapse. - An unrestricted and unregulated immigration crisis that provides an ever cheaper quantity of individuals willing to work for a miserable wage. - Least but not least the total incompetence of the government and the EU, both blocked by a strict thought of political correctness that keeps them from applying needed actions that would properly respond to changes in the local and global, economical and geopolitical landscape. It is indeed a problem of the culture of the society, and the hikikomori phenomena is only one of the consequences of a society that is forced to change, but is not able to do it properly.
        mixedCase 10y ago
hkmurakami 10y ago
As with anything, there's a spectrum to these things. Some will interact positively with their family but won't venture out of the house at all. Some might occasionally go out of the house as well. The western media's portrayal is a bit extreme and sensationalist (surprise!).