Contemporary Social Issues in Japan - Research Paper Example

Hikikomori Outline Theme: Contemporary Social Issues in Japan Topic: Hikikomori, a social phenomenon which is identified among the Japanese youth Research question: Does Hikikomori affect the social, educational, professional well being of Japanese youth? The paper investigates socio-cultural and economic impacts of Hikikomori. Summary of the paper Psychologists and activists identified a new social malady among the Japanese youth through recent news reports and journal articles. Japanese psychologist Tamaki Saito called this social phenomenon as Hikikomori. It affected youth and became a serious social problem. In the beginning of 1990s, Japanese news papers have reported some violent behavior patterns in Japanese youth. Hikikomori people show complete withdrawal from social establishments. The problem creates obstacles in education field, family life, industries and business fields. Hikikomori people like to stay lonely in homes for a long time and become the victims of severe behavior problems. Various factors like social system, family life, parent child communication and defective school system are considered the major causes for this social problem. At present, various kinds of support systems which provide help and assistance for young people, parents and teachers are available in Japan. Introduction News reports and magazine articles in Japan have reported the anxiety among the social activists and research professionals about a social trouble which has been noted as seriously affecting the country. They have also identified this new social phenomenon causing for severe behavioral changes among the youths. Michael J. Dziesinski states; “A new term, Hikikomori, was coined for this social phenomenon by Japanese psychologist Tamaki Saito to describe a disturbing behavioral trend towards complete social withdrawal among Japanese youths” (Dziesinski1). Studies prove that it is a disturbing behavioral trend towards absolute social and cultural withdrawal among the Japanese youth. In the end of the 1970s, some news papers and journal articles have published reports about some kinds of challenging behavior and social withdrawal from the part of Japanese youth. In the beginning of the 1990s sociologists have noticed the fact that a gradual growth took place in these behavioral disorders. The dilemma of Hikikomori became a serious social problem in Japan as it affecting the young people who are often regarded as the wealth of a nation. Therefore, Hikikomori creates serious behavior disorders among the Japanese youth and their social withdrawal negatively affects the social and economic growth of the nation. Western psychologists and research professionals consider Hikikomori as a culture bound disease. It has been noted as adversely affecting a particular nation for the duration of a particular moment in its social and cultural history. Psychologists admit Hikikomori as a specific behavioral condition that does not exist in another place. Previous studies report that, in an approximation, there are thousands of people living in Japan with the symptoms of Hikikomori. In New York times, Maggie Jones writes; “Even other experts more conservative estimates, ranging between 100,000 and 320,000 sufferers, are alarming, given how dire the consequences may be” (Jones). There are two kinds of Hikikomori which appear to be relevant in Japan, first one is primary Hikikomori or Hikikomori without visible mental disorder, and the second one is the high functioning persistent mental disorder. Media has played a significant role creating perspectives on the effects of Hikikomori among the youths. Phil Rees, news correspondent reports on the growing devastating nature of Japanese youth from social life. He says; “Teenage boys in Japans cities are turning into modern hermits - never leaving their rooms” (Rees). The issue became a serious issue when social withdrawal from Japanese youth reached in considerable status. As a result of this social issue, young people widely engaged in various antisocial activities. Extraction from social establishments paved the way for severe conflicts among the family relationships as well social connections. It is significant for a reader to notice that the rate of school refusal is increasing or has doubled since the year of 1990 (Jones). It arises some significant questions among the educational professionals and parents about the smooth functioning of education programs of adolescents. Social activists and psychologists fear that after the next 10 or 15 years of slow-moving growth, structured working culture of the previous generation will be eliminated. Consequently, it substitutes part time jobs or no works and a sense of utter hopelessness and breakdown. Withdrawal from work fields promotes harmful consequences and it prevents the existence of industries. The greatest tragedy is that the increasing trends of withdrawal from the part of young people causes for the formation of new social class of young men. These young men fail to do anything or will not do anything or join the fulltime working fields in Japan. It results a complete deterioration of Japanese image as a hardworking people. More than this behavioral disorder from the part of the dynamic youths affect the nation’s economic growth and it contributes severe crisis in country’s human resource management. Psychologists and sociologists have mentioned the fact that Hikikomori affects the psychological wellbeing and causes for behavioral problems for youngsters. In Japan, it was a short period, until the description of Hikikomori was designated by professionals to officially classify isolated youths who rejected to engage in socially established rules and regulations. In the Initial stage, Hikikomori people began to show their willingness to stay in loneliness. Some cases, Hikikomori people not ready to speak with other family members. Some of the behavior changes are significant among the Hikikomori people; they sleep during the day time and keep on awake in night. In next stage, challenging behavior patterns are took place. Adolescent period is considered as the most crucial time for a person’s developmental process. Here, young people often realizes about their mistakes, poor academic performances, professional disabilities, poor communication skills and lower level of confidence. In due course, they began to show adjustment problems in their social, personal and professional life. In case of many Hikikomori youth in Japanese families have been identified as suffering from depression or infatuated behavior and are gradually forced to engage anti- social activities. Jed Diamond made some relevant studies about the characteristics of this behavior disorder in his study entitled; ‘The irritable male syndrome: managing the 4 key causes of depression’. The author mentions an incident as example and says, “In 2000, a 17 year old Hikikomori sufferer left his isolation and hijacked a bus, killing a passenger” (Diamond 72). Growing youth tendencies to involve anti-social activities contribute great difficulties in maintaining legal procedures of the land. Current studies and researches about Hikikomori concentrate three specific areas such as family environments, peer relations, society and school atmosphere. Existing family backgrounds and family relationships in Japan contributes significant causes for behavior disorder among the youths. The problem is that Japanese parents usually welcome their children to stay at home until their thirties. Because of this, Japanese youth often lose their chance to mingle with others. Lack of effective communication between the Japanese parents and children creates considerable behavioral disorders like frustration, anxiety, stress and anger among the adolescents. People who lived in Japan always follow a kind of fast and workaholic culture in their social life. They often fail to find spiritual happiness or calmness from their social life because of the presence busy work field. This stereotyped and hackneyed activities change the people to become more violent and depressed. Today many people feel pressures of the outside world, the social phenomenon Hikikomori react by absolute social withdrawal. The Japanese Health Minister Department identifies general characteristics of Hikikomori people. The issue of Hikikomori is mainly affected with young people, especially the age group 14to 20. The online journal entitled Hikikomori Investigations into the phenomenon of acute social withdrawal in contemporary Japan by Michael J. Dziesinski clearly observes; When the Hikikomori problem was first widely publicized, demographics of Hikikomori victims suggested it to be a youth based illness which also appears to primarily afflict young males” (Dziesinski 6). Hikikomori people always refuse to leave their homes, and they isolate themselves from social surroundings. The range of isolation is based on individual differences. Studies prove that some cases, people remain loneliness for years or decades. Psychologists and doctors have identified initial symptoms. Most of the cases, withdrawal of Hikikomori people from the society take place in gradual process. In the initial stage, people began to appear unhappy and gloomy. Gradually they leave friends and relatives and show their willingness to keep loneliness. These people often affected from emotional insecurity, shyness and anxiety. Recent studies and researchers examined a variety of reasons behind the formation of this social phenomenon among the Japanese youth. Existing social system in Japan acts as a major cause behind this social issue. Poor family relationship between the family members, defective education system in schools and defective communication between parents and children act as contributory reasons. Bitter school experience creates challenging behavior from the children especially adult children. As consequences of this children often fell in to continuous and constant failure of academic performances. The online article entitled; ‘The Japanese Hikikomori phenomenon: acute social withdrawal among young people’ by Andy Furlong observes; “Japanese schools are highly regimented environments and there are few concessions to non-conformist behavior. Consequently truancy and school refusal is not uncommon” (Furlong). Exceeding non-conformist behavior among the children in school settings also promote challenging behavior. As a social issue of national interest, authorities introduced various supporting programs for the prevention and triumph over of this social phenomenon. A group of experienced professionals give support and assistance for parents and psychologists. Their efforts underline the fact that innovative training programs for young people give new insight for Hikikomori people in their personal life as well professional. Implementation of innovative instructional strategies and teaching methods can provide positive results. Social awareness programs are another essential preventive measure and it requires financial and legal support from the government as well the public. Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that Hikikomori is identified a social phenomenon that affect the youths and adolescents in Japan. It is a psychological disorder as well as behavior problems among the Japanese youth. Eminent Japanese psychologist Tamaki Saito defines coined the term Hikikomori for this social phenomenon and his studies underline its social relevance. Hikikomori people often show their willingness to withdraw from social establishments and social interactions. News reports and journal articles expose several news stories about Hikikomori people. Initial stage of the behavioral disorder people keeps loneliness from their family members and friends. Then it develops in to severe behavioral problems and frequent involvement in anti-social activities. Psychologists put forward some reasons like family background, parent –children relationship, school atmosphere, early drop out from schools, risk factors in work fields and physiological or neurological disorders behind this social phenomenon. Implementation of support programs for parents and psychologists give positive results in the process of preventing Hikikomori. However, Withdrawal from learning programs and other educational activities seriously affect the growth of young generation. Works cited Diamond, Jed. The irritable male syndrome: managing the 4 key causes of depression & aggression. Rev.edn. Rodale, 2004. Print. Dziesinski, Michael J. Hikikomori: Investigations into the phenomenon of acute social withdrawal in contemporary Japan. University of Hawaii Manoa. Honolulu, Hawaii, 2003. Print. Furlong, Andy. “The Japanese Hikikomori phenomenon: acute social withdrawal among young people.” The Sociological Review. 56 (2008): 309–325. Print. Jones, Maggie. “Shutting Themselves In.” New York Times. January 15, 2006. Web. 29 May 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/15/magazine/15japanese.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Japans%20new%20shut-ins:%20youths%20who%20wont%20leave%20their%20rooms&st=cse Rees, Phil. “Japan: The Missing Million.” BBC News. 20 October, 2002. Web. 29 May 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/correspondent/2334893.stm University of Hawaii Manoa. Hikikomori: Investigations into the phenomenon of acute social withdrawal in contemporary Japan.2003. Web. 29 May 2011. http://towakudai.blogs.com/Hikikomori.Research.Survey.pdf Read More