Mirror of Alienation: What the Hikikomori Phenomenon Says About the Modern World
Recently, anthropologist and philosopher Alain Julian visited a rehabilitation center for modern recluses in Japan. In the early 1990s, Japan faced economic stagnation known as the "lost decade." During this period, many cases emerged where people began to isolate themselves in their homes, ceasing participation in work, educational, and social life. These individuals, known as "hikikomori," derived their name from the Japanese words hiku (to pull) and komoru (to seclude),