Japan … A mysterious country famous for its originality, high standard of living, developed economy and technology. Japanese management culture and its business models are studied in all large corporations in Europe and the United States, equal to the level of organization of its employees and impeccable business strategies.
Escape from the real world
It is in Japan that there is such a practice as "life-long employment", which implies employment and further career advancement within only one company. Of course, this is preceded by obtaining a prestigious higher education, and it should be noted that in Japan it is almost never free.
Only the most talented school graduates can receive scholarships and grants, but such scholarships are issued on a refundable basis and do not fully cover the cost of training.
It turns out that the Japanese have to think about their future and future success in life at a fairly early age. The frantic rhythm in which all the major cities of the Land of the Rising Sun live does not contribute to youthful quests - either you make a decision and become part of the so-called system, or not.
And today one of the most ambitious social problems in Japan is just such a way of life, which implies an exit from this system and an escape from the real world. The phenomenon, which will be discussed below, in Japanese is denoted by the word "hikikomori", which in translation means "being in solitude."
Promotional video:
This concept refers to young people (at the moment their average age is 25-30 years old), who voluntarily renounced social life and came to social self-isolation, in other words, reclusion.
In a minority of cases, some of them earn money through the Internet, but most of the hikikomori are unemployed and are supported by their relatives or receive unemployment benefits.
Such people are able not to leave their apartment (and sometimes even a room) for several years, communicating with the world exclusively through the World Wide Web.
Hikikomori's interests are usually limited to spending time on the Internet. The network provides anonymity, access to almost any information, the ability to communicate at a distance, and also contributes to the desire for escapism - the desire to live in your own world of fantasy and illusion.
Internet addiction nowadays occupies the first place in the list of addictions of mankind, ahead of both drug addiction and alcoholism, therefore, hikikomori, fully devoting themselves to the Internet, are usually not subject to bad habits.
But at the same time, seclusion does not slow down to affect their health - in addition to severe psychological problems, they have physical inactivity, problems with excess weight and digestion, especially if the recluse does not live with his parents and constantly orders the same food at home.
Also, hikikomori often neglect personal hygiene - there is a known case when a young man who lived for several years in his room left it only once every six months to take a shower.
What will the neighbors think?
According to statistics, about 8% of the working population in Japan deliberately chose this lifestyle over the traditional social model. Psychologists studying the hikikomori phenomenon argue that such a behavioral anomaly is possible only in Asian countries.
Despite the unconditional clinical component (of the 27 cases studied, only ten hermits did not have a personality disorder), several factors stand out that turned out to be decisive in the formation of the hikikomori personality.
The first factor is inextricably linked to the issue of Japanese mentality. In Japan, it is simply not customary to “wash dirty linen in public” and share your troubles and problems with your neighbor. Many young people became reclusive as a result of life failures and personal experiences (loss of a job, parting with a beloved, inability to prove themselves in a team), which they then simply had no one to discuss with.
Such a trait of national character, multiplied by a difficult turning point of age, can really entail a whole range of psychological problems, which becomes impossible to get rid of without outside help.
In addition, not every parent in Japan considers it necessary to consult a specialist or make public what is happening with his child - what will the neighbors think?
Alone among the crowd
The second factor relates to the developed economic situation of the country - the middle class in Japan lives in abundance, and this allows parents to support their children almost until the end of their lives. In addition, the maintenance of a recluse does not require such costs as an ordinary socially active dependent.
The third factor is the rejection of traditional Japanese social values, which can also include the "vacancy for life", which was mentioned earlier. A certain percentage of the younger generation in Japan believes that the employment system that earned their parents is no longer relevant.
So some, disdaining the "system" and career guidelines, begin to work in low-paid positions in small firms, often changing jobs and not staying for a long time in one place, while others, in addition to career guidelines, also lose life guidelines.
Well, the last factor is, of course, the overpopulation of Asian countries, followed by the inevitable collectivism. Given the secrecy and shallowness of communication, which is considered good form in Japan, this can make a person feel lonely and uncomfortable in the midst of a huge crowd.
Back to life
In the West, in the youth environment, young people, mainly under 25, who are experiencing difficulties in communication and social realization, are ready to hang the label hikikomori on themselves, but nothing more. In Russian realities, such a way of life is practically impossible, given the Russian cost of living and the amount of benefits.
Do not forget that the economic conditions of Russia and Japan are two completely different phenomena, and not every Russian family is capable of pulling on an idle thirty-year-old son.
The difference in mentality cannot but affect. A wealthy Japanese family is able to close their eyes to the problem, indulge the child and continue to cover his expenses. But a wealthy Russian family will attract all their finances and connections so that the child still gets his "start in life", even regardless of his own desires and plans for the future.
Now in large cities of Japan there are special clubs and social assistance services for those who spent a lot of time in isolation, all their programs are actively supported and funded by the state.
Thanks to such centers, some of the young people were still able to return to society and find themselves. Those unfortunates who have developed mental abnormalities due to prolonged voluntary confinement are under the supervision of doctors, a curator is assigned to each of the patients.
But, one way or another, the most important condition for participation in such programs is the patient's own desire and his belief that he himself can change his life.
Valeria ROGOVA