I first heard of the term "hikikomori" late last year when a member of this forum (obviously before HC existed) sent me a link to the Wikipedia hikikomori page.

Upon reading the Wikipedia page, I couldn't believe that there were people in the world who were living the exact same way as myself. Sure, I heard of a few cases of people staying housebound for years, but I figured that those cases were extremely rare. When I'd read that over a million people were living this extremely reclusive lifestyle, it made me (not to sound mean) feel a lot better about myself.

Prior to reading the Wikipedia hikikomori page I had noticed that lots of people with Asperger's who I had spoken to online were living extremely reclusive lifestyles such as myself, so hearing about the way these "hikikomoris" were living their lives wasn't all that shocking to me, although I am certain that it would be quite shocking for the average person to hear about someone who never stepped out of their house for over five, ten, or fifteen years.

I myself prefer to use the term "recluse" or "extreme recluse" when referring to someone who lives a "hikikomoriish" lifestyle, since "recluse" is an English word, and I speak English. However, I still use the term "hikikomori" quite often since Japan seems to have a lot more shut-ins (hikikomoris) than any other place in the world (or at least, their "shut-in" problem there has been noted).

Me using the term "hikikomori" in my blog-posts and on here could really help Japanese "hikikomori" discover this site and seek help - the term "hikikomori" is common in Japan, so we could easily have Japanese people find out about this place.



*Note* - In most urban parts of Japan, people can speak (at least some) English, so even though I usually use the term "hikikomori" in English on the forum and in my blog-posts, it would still help Japanese shut-ins who need support find us.

I think I found it early this year when I googled looking for information on something. I ended up with a BBC article about hikikomori which was several years old. Then I watched some documentaries on YouTube and the more I read about it the more I could relate to my own situation. Not in all aspects though, because some forms of hikikomori seem to go into a depression so deep that they stop caring even for hygiene and things like that, which isn't the case with me.

I know that word for years. Must be around 2003 when a volume of GTO came out. There was a hikikomori character and this word was explained there.

I think it’s about a year ago, I first heard of it. I was at the library and noticed the Danish sci-fi novel called Hikikomori written by some guy named Niels Ole Rasmussen, I didn’t read it because I just don’t really like sci-fi novels much. At the outside of the book it just said that a hikikomori was someone who disliked going outside, and apparently the guy in this book is forced to go outside against his will, for some reason.

About a year ago, I think my friend (over aim) linked me to a video about it on youtube. I thought it was really fascinating and started reading up on it more. It actually made me feel worse that this had a name and made me question where our society was heading. It's kind of bleak if I start thinking about it even now.

When: The day I joined this site.
How: Someone posted a link to this forum on another board.

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei:

http://hangmen13.16ops.com/wp-content/p ... S_Kiri.jpg

Same here.

About more than a year ago, I discovered a game called Yume Nikki. The main character is a hikikomori who refuses to leave her room for any reason and the only way to leave it was through a dream world. Back then, I wasn't familiar with that word and so I searched up more information. To my surprise, there really was a term for such a way of living except it was used for/from japanese vocabulary. I didn't think it was big deal with recluses anywhere else in the world, but then I learned about one of Japan's phenomenon afterwards.

Somebody mentioned the term on another forum I'm a member of. Personally I would never refer to myself as a Hikikomori, as I consider it a Japanese word, and a Westerner using it to describe themself would make me think they were a bit Wapanese. =P

I just refer to myself as a recluse.

I learned the terms NEET and hikikomori from Chair earlier this year.

I watched a program on TV about it in 2005 (which I later subtitled in English), but I think I mostly forgot about the term until I watched the Welcome to the NHK anime.

I first heard the term a few years ago (January 2006, I believe) on a talk show discussing hikikomori. I was surprised that there was a lot of other people like me.

I first know of the term from here:
http://towakudai.blogs.com/

After that I check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikikomori

Then I tried one of the links which happens to be this forum:
http://www.hikiculture.com/

Soleiyu answered for me too, word perfect. This is exactly how I found it too. I think we must've read the same BBC article and watched the same YouTube clips lol.

About three or four years ago, I came across the Wikipedia article and went, "Hey, there's a word for it? Awesome! "

@Sloth, what about a Japanese language/culture student who's nearly fluent? I do hope you wouldn't consider me "Wapanese," although it wouldn't be the first time I've been accused. Personally, I find that concept overused, overapplied, elitist, and just old already.
でも人が正しくなく判断するのは仕方がないでしょう。残念。

One day I just googled my feelings and behaviour, and internet gave me the answer of what I was. I use to solve every issue via internet, I never deal with real people, lol!

That's how I heard about the term too.
It was 2004 (or '05) I watched an episode at my old university's anime club. Some months before I looked up what it meant... Like others, I found it so weird at the time that there were many others living like me, staying in my room and just generally avoiding life in general.
But I don't call myself a hiki, I too call myself a recluse.

Yeah. I also usually tend to use recluse when referring to my way of life.

Words are just words, but I tend to use English terms more often than foreign ones. I use the term "hikikomori" mainly so that Japanese people who are familiar with the term who need support can find this site. I also use it because I want people to realize that this site isn't only for reclusive people, but also for people who are reclusive to an extremely high degree - to a degree where they don't leave their house for months or years at a time.

The only bad thing I can say about the word hikikomori is that some otakus who know of the term view the hikikomori phenomenon in high regard. To me, this is highly offensive. Some people may enjoy the hikikomori lifestyle, or at least claim to enjoy it, but it's painful to most.

I saw a documentary about it between 3 to 5 years ago, I don't know what channel it was on, or what it was called, but I never forgot it.

The first time i heard the term was while watching, Welcome to the NHK. I'm addicted to the anime now, i didn't realize that my reactions and way of life were "common." I can relate to each of the main character in some way especially Satou and his sempai Hitomi...the show hits so close to home sometimes its scary, I also love how it makes me laugh and feel a lot more comfortable with myself. I now know that I must travel to Japan. I found this site by googling the anime.

lol Welcome to the NHK. One of the best anime I have ever seen. Not just because I can relate, but because making that eroge game was awesome.

That was where I heard it from and I really love the anime. The manga/light novel are also great reads too although all three of them make me feel pretty depressed since I could relate with all the key characters so well.

Yeah I know what you mean, but doesn't it make you feel like you aren't the only one. It made me feel more normal in a sense. I'm a lil more than halfway through the series, I hope it ends well...it helps me view my life in a comedic way, and i realize it could be worst. I really admire Satou, aand i wish i had a group of friends like that.
I'll have to read the books too.

I looked it up after looking at one of the songs that made me feel understood (mind you, it is quite rare for a song to make me feel connected in any way). It describe it as describing hikikomori/NEET depression. I looked it up, and I began to research.