Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Araghchi to Grossi: These parties will bear responsibility for the consequences of their actions
Araghchi to Grossi: Iran will respond to any unlawful action by European countries or parties attempting to turn the Agency into a tool for achieving their objectives
Araghchi to Grossi: We urge the Agency to warn against the consequences of any political move against Iran
Araghchi to Grossi: We call on the Agency to highlight Iran’s full cooperation during the upcoming Board of Governors meeting next week
Araghchi to Grossi: We demand that the Agency reflect the facts in a manner that prevents certain parties from exploiting it to advance their political agendas
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi holds a phone call with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi
Trump envoy Witkoff has sent 'detailed and acceptable proposal' to Iran for nuclear deal; it's in their best interest to accept it: White House Press Secretary Leavitt
Hamas official says Witkoff's position toward group was 'unfair' and shows 'complete bias' to 'Israel'
Hamas official says it has considered Witkoff's proposal acceptable for negotiations, says 'Israel's' response was incompatible with what the group agreed on
Hamas official says group has not rejected Wikoff's proposal for Gaza ceasefire

Japan faces a double challenge: an aging population, reclusiveness

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 7 Apr 2023 13:29
4 Min Read

The Covid-19 pandemic aggravated an existing problem within Japanese society, making it more complex to overcome the culture of reclusiveness.

  • x
  • Crowds of people wearing face masks walk along a shopping street at the Asakusa district Monday, March 28, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP)
    Crowds of people wearing face masks walk along a shopping street in the Asakusa district Monday, March 28, 2022, in Tokyo. (AP)

In the 1980s, the word hikikomori was coined in Japan to describe the culture of inclusiveness in Japan. A new government survey has revealed that about 1.5 million people have withdrawn from society in general and rather live most of their lives confined to the walls of their apartments. 

The Japanese government identifies its hikikomori community as "people who have been isolated for at least six months," reported CNN.

The survey also revealed that some only leave their apartments to go and buy their groceries while others remain confined indoors for a long time. In the past decade, it was reported that Japan has become increasingly concerned regarding the reclusion of this group of people, however, the Covid-19 pandemic actively worsened the scene.

Last November, a survey conducted by the Children and Family Agency found that from the 12,249 respondents, about 2% of people aged 15 to 64 have identified as hikikomori; given Japan's population, 2% make up 1.46 million social recluses in the country according to the agency's spokesperson.

Pregnancy, job loss, sickness, retirement, and poor interpersonal interactions were all frequently stated causes of social isolation, but Covid-19 was the leading culprit, with more than a quarter of respondents attributing their reclusive lifestyle to the epidemic.

Another paper published earlier in February in Japan’s National Diet Library “Due to Covid-19, opportunities for contact with other people have decreased.”

The pandemic may have exacerbated already-existing societal issues including loneliness, isolation, and financial difficulty, the paper said, citing an increase in recorded suicides as well as child and domestic violence.

The decline in population growth as well as the aging of the current population in Japan also poses a challenge. Hikikomori is not new, for it existed long before the pandemic emerged. However, this phenomenon looms over other Japanese problems.

Related News

Japan universities offer haven to foreign scholars amid US crackdown

Germany’s TKMS competes with Japan over $10bln Australian frigate

Since the 1980 boom in Japan, its population has been in decline as the number of births continues to fall to record lows. Moreover, the aging population meant that more and more people are aging out of the workforce as more and more people are adopting a hikikomori lifestyle.

Earlier this year, the Japanese Prime Minister had warned that the country was “on the brink of not being able to maintain social functions.”

This means that families with members who identify as hikikomori, face even more challenges as 50-year-old people have to rely on their 80-year-old parents. This problem was even named the "8050 problems" in Japan.

Japanese gov't to adopt measures to raise birth rate

Japan's government will take comprehensive measures to raise the birth rate amid a possible record drop in the country's fertility, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said back in November 2022.

Prior to that, Japan's Health Ministry said that 599,000 babies were born in Japan in 2022's first nine months, a number that is 30,000 fewer than that in the same period of 2021. The country's birth rate could fall below 800,000 for the first time if the rate remains the same until the end of the year, the ministry added.

"Comprehensive measures should be promoted to address the decline in the birth rate at all stages of life in the form of economic assistance for marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, creating conditions to combine work and child-rearing for both parents," Matsuno said, as quoted by the Japanese broadcaster NHK.

In early May of the same year, the Japanese Interior Ministry registered the lowest share of children in Japan's population in 41 years (11.7%); they now number 14.65 million.

Japan's shrinking population has raised so many alarms that one paper called for the declaration of a "declining birth-rate state of emergency."

The first time Japan took notice of its low fertility rates was in 1989 when the country's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) was found to be 1.57, much lower than the 2.1 needed for a population to sustain itself.

Read more: All rich countries to be hit with declining population

  • Japan
  • COVID-19
  • hikikomori
  • Tokyo

Most Read

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS