It shouldn't seem similar to you. Incels and the hikkikomori phenomenon have very little, if anything to do with each other. From what I gather, incels are a gr

It shouldn't seem similar to you. Incels and the hikkikomori phenomenon have very little, if anything to do with each other. From what I gather, incels are a group of people focused on believeing that they are owed sex or companionship in some way, and frequently a derisive attitude towards women who have had multiple partners or partners they regard as low quality etc. I'm not sure where you get the idea that incels are shut-ins, or an American take on what is essentially the concept of shut-ins in Japan. While I'm sure some hikkikomori do harbor such opinions, I find no reason to think they essentially do, or that it tends to it. If anything, I'd say that the phenomenon is much more similar to MGTOW (Men Going Their Own Way), which seeks to reject romantic involvement, at least with women. Again, even that is a stretch. Where do you get the idea that incels tend to be anime fans? I have the idea that people with more time on their hands who face social rejection turn to media and worlds to the periphery, which anime and manga provide very well - whole worlds of immersive entertainment that's produced every day, huge fan communities to throw yourself into. This is why it might apply to hikkis and NEETs. I'd also question the idea that hikkikomori are simply less angry incels, or something along those lines. Feeling rejected and a distaste for "3D", opting for the world of fantasy is actually almost the opposite of the incel phenomenon, which is very much focused on what they take to be real world causes to their real world problems.