12 Reasons Japanese Culture Is Deeply Disturbing, But Still Wonderfully Fascinating

6. Japanese Society Is Facing a Growing Problem With Shut-Ins

Known colloquially as hikikomori, Japanese shut-ins are skewing younger more and more commonly. A number of teens and twenty-somethings have channeled their anxiety about moving out into the world into simply not going anywhere. The reasons for this phenomenon is unknown, though Japanese parents have a reputation for sheltering their young, real estate is prohibitively expensive in the country, and the internet makes earning a living feasible without putting pants on. This group of youngsters has been dubbed, “the missing million.”