Hikikomori

This is an introduction to a special collection of papers on hikikomori (prolonged social withdrawal), looking at how it is assessed, treated, and addressed by communities in different countries.

Drawing on researchers from Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, China, and Singapore, this paper looks at hikikomori — prolonged social withdrawal — and how it shows up differently across East Asian countries, along with the challenges it poses for health and social services.