Hikikomori

Also known as shut-in

thumb|A young Japanese man living as a hikikomori in 2004 Hikikomori ( , ) are reclusive adolescents or adults who withdraw from social life, often seeking extreme degrees of isolation and confinement. The term refers to both the sociological phenomenon in general and the individuals belonging to this societal group, who have been described as "modern hermits". Hikikomori has been an increasing problem in Japan since the 1990s, with estimates suggesting that over a million individuals are affected. While the phenomenon is most associated with Japan, cases with similar conditions have also been