The phenomenon of “hikikomori” (social withdrawal) and the socio-cultural situation in Japan today

Objectives In Japan today it is believed that there are a million young adults who refuse to work and who avoid social contact. This phenomenon, known as “hikikomori” (social withdrawal), has become a serious socio-psychological problem throughout the country. However, there has been little psychopathological consideration of this phenomenon, and no detailed discussion of diagnosis. In this article, we investigate the phenomenon from a psychiatric perspective by introducing the concept of “primary hikikomori” and examining its relationship to recent changes in Japanese society.