Is hikikomori a mental illness?

It is a condition; depression or anxiety may co-occur, so assessment helps.

Does going to a convenience store rule it out?

No; Japan’s definition includes outings without social interaction.

Should families force them out?

Coercion usually backfires; start with family counseling.

Hikikomori

👪 Family & Child Studies By CampusDown Wiki Editorial Team Last updated October 23, 2026

Hikikomori is a state of withdrawing from school, work and social life and staying mostly at home for six months or more. The term originated in Japan; Korea speaks of isolated and reclusive youth.

Contents

1. What is hikikomori?
2. Prevalence
3. The 8050 problem
4. What families can do
5. Support
6. Frequently asked questions
7. References

What is hikikomori?

Hikikomori (Japanese for "withdrawing") describes avoiding schooling, work and friendships and remaining largely at home for six months or more (Japan MHLW guideline, 2010). It names a condition, not a diagnosis. Psychiatrist Saitō Tamaki brought it to public attention in 1998.

📌 At a glance

Definition: Social withdrawal for ≥6 months
Nature: A state, not a disorder
Japan estimate: ~1.46 million aged 15–64 (2022 survey)
Korea: Isolated and reclusive youth

Prevalence

Japan’s Cabinet Office 2022 survey (published March 2023) found 2.05% of 15–39-year-olds and 2.02% of 40–64-year-olds in broad hikikomori, about 1.46 million people, citing retirement, relationships and COVID-19 as triggers. In Korea, researchers estimated up to about 540,000 isolated or reclusive youth aged 19–34 (KIHASA, 2023); the government announced a support plan in December 2023 and piloted Youth Future Centers from 2024.

The 8050 problem

Long-term withdrawal has produced households where parents in their 80s support children in their 50s, risking crisis and lonely deaths when parents die or need care.

Hikikomori is closer to being stuck than being lazy. Shame, anxiety and past failures close the way back; pressure often closes the door further.

What families can do

Reduce criticism; high expressed emotion slows recovery.
Keep low-pressure daily contact.
Seek help first as a family through counseling and psychoeducation, including CRAFT-based programs.
Protect the family’s own life to avoid burnout.

Support

Korea’s Youth Future Centers and community mental health centers; Japan’s regional hikikomori support centers.

Frequently asked questions

Is hikikomori a mental illness?: It is a condition; depression or anxiety may co-occur, so assessment helps.
Does going to a convenience store rule it out?: No; Japan’s definition includes outings without social interaction.
Should families force them out?: Coercion usually backfires; start with family counseling.

References

斎藤環 (1998). 『社会的ひきこもり：終わらない思春期』. PHP新書.
厚生労働省 (2010). 『ひきこもりの評価・支援に関するガイドライン』.
内閣府 (2023). 『こども・若者の意識と生活に関する調査（令和4年度）』. https://www.cfa.go.jp/resources/research/chilren-attitudes
Kato, T. A., Kanba, S., & Teo, A. R. (2019). Hikikomori: Multidimensional understanding, assessment, and future international perspectives. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 73(8), 427–440.

Reports and materials that use this theory (Korean)

There are no materials dedicated to this theory yet, but you can search related reports in the CampusDown library (Korean).

Find more reports · Search '히키코모리' on CampusDown →

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This article was last updated on October 23, 2026. It is based on widely recognized original works and textbooks; when citing it in a paper, please check the original sources listed in the references.