> Feelings of failure and shame are common among hikikomori of all ages. It sounds to me like Japan's hyper-competitive business culture has chewed these peopl

> Feelings of failure and shame are common among hikikomori of all ages. It sounds to me like Japan's hyper-competitive business culture has chewed these people up and spit them back out (even though for some this happened while still in school), and now an entire population segment has paralyzing depression. Maybe that aspect of the country's culture will be forced to change for the sake of the economy.