Japanese Shut-Ins
This strange phenomenon ranks right up there with suicide clubs, panty sniffing and visual kei. There is an article in the January 15th issue of The New York Times Magazine titled "Shutting Themselves In" written by Maggie Jones. Not to give too much away, but it deals with a particular social ill that is plaguing Japan's urban centers. Mostly affecting teenage boys and a small segment of girls, a 'hikikomori,' which translates to 'withdrawal,' is known to stay within the confines of their bedroom and not leave for a good number of years. They do venture out to the 24-hour convenience store once in a while (while society sleeps) and return to their rooms before dawn breaks. The article is a must-read. Something to remind us all that adolescence in this day and age is more complicated and requires us to re-think the way we raise children.
(Thanks BK for pointing out the article.)
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