Dying Out of Sight: Hikikomori in an Aging Japan
IN-DEPTH VIDEOS, 24 Nov 2025
NHK World – TRANSCEND Media Service
It’s estimated over a million Japanese live as “hikikomori,” recluses totally withdrawn from society. Some hikikomori may even go for decades without leaving their house. While in the past the phenomenon was most commonly associated with young men, recent data has revealed a much wider demographic of people whose confidence in themselves, and in society, has been shattered. As the parents or relatives on whom hikikomoris so often depend on become too old to care for them, many face a dire situation, left alone and unable to cope.
Click to Watch Documentary:
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/4001383/
Broadcast on 16 Jan 2021 / Available until 15 Dec 2025 on NHK
Tags: Hikikomori, Japan, Personal, Social conflict
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 24 Nov 2025.
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