I was looking up NEET because my mom was telling me that she doesn't want me turning into a NEET, and I saw hikikomori. Then the word was stuck in my mind for a while. I kept hearing it. I kept feeling accused of being one. But I forgot what it meant, so I looked it up and I realized I am a hikikomori. Aaaaahhh. Realization.

Yeah I do really like the comedy aspects to it but after the series was over I sort of just sat there and reflected on it in a serious way. I was also sad the series was over and I havn't been able to find anything like it since. But yeah the anime, manga, and book all offer a different great experience while the book and manga are a bit darker at points.

This forum.

I think quite a few of us here learned it from Welcome to the NHK, but I'm curious where the rest of you learned it from. Oh and I apologize if a thread like this has already been made.

Same here, documentary on TV about it, not only in japan but other parts of the world. I was shocked how it was becoming a general problem, i mean before that i was the only person i ever knew that lived like that. I was worried about two things, one, the social implications of the whole thing, and two that it gets worse with time.

I got really worried i would come to some extreme points i saw, not leaving the room, personal hygiene, and even mental health, you know... to be able to still grasp some reality.

Later it was "Welcome to NHK" i couldn't believe there was an anime about it, and such a cool one. I was like a kid on xmas eve watching the first episodes. It takes a more down to reality tone as it nears the end, hard truths but still very good.