Hikikomori

From the website of Francesco Jodice: The film explores some aspects of japanese young peolple social behaviours.
Feeling of unease and lack of communication lead to different kind of reaction (skaters; harajuku-kids) or no-action (Otaku; Hikikomori) or annihilation (suicide pact).

This is a litttle off-topic but to beautiful not to post. Hikikomori is a social phenomenon represented in a film by an Italian photographer: Francesco Jodice who worked together with film director Kal Karman.

Hikikomori, the main theme of the film, is a voluntary reclusion pursuing the complete annhilation of communication and relationships.
Generally hikikomori are under 30 and with an high level of instruction.

Most of them decide to never go out of their home or even of their bedroom. This absolute isolation, that can least for a short period, but even years, becomes a shelter, a protected place of lost childhood, virtual game and manga.  Hikikomori live a nocturnal life, in a deep depressive state, far from social responsabilities ( school, work, family) and activities. Even sexuality is often virtually lived and connected to a sexy manga heroin.
Hikikomori was filmed in Tokyo between the 3rd and the 8th of november 2004.

Otaku: 1_ geek, nerd, enthusiast. 2_ your house, your home (pol), you
Hikikomori: 1_ confinare, rinchiudersi

Go directly to the movie
(via)

There is also a BBC documentary about hikikomori which is posted in parts at YouTube (ripped from the Catalan TV).
Los Hikikomori son adolescentes y adultos jóvenes que se ven abrumados por la sociedad japonesa y se sienten incapaces de cumplir los roles sociales que se esperan de ellos, reaccionando con un aislamiento social. Los hikikomori a menudo rehúsan abandonar la casa de sus padres y puede que se encierren en una habitación durante meses o incluso años. Según algunas estimaciones, puede que haya un millón de hikikomoris en Japón (uno de cada diez jóvenes). La mayoría de ellos son varones, y muchos son también primogénitos.

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