The Modern Hermits of Japan

Over a million people in Japan live as hikikomori, vanishing from society for months or years. These modern hermits shut themselves in their bedrooms, avoiding all human contact except for family members.

This phenomenon began gaining attention in the 1990s as a response to intense social and academic pressures. Many hikikomori feel unable to meet the high expectations of the outside world, leading them to retreat into a life of digital existence and total solitude. While once thought to be a uniquely Japanese issue, researchers are now seeing similar patterns of extreme social withdrawal appearing in countries across the globe.