Society Half of Japanese hikikomori now female

It was mid-June when the 36-year-old woman rode a train for the first time in a long while and stepped into a building in Tokyo's Omotesando area for the discussion on the unique experiences of female hikikomori. At the event, the 65 attendees split into groups and each shared the troubles they carry in their lives. Before she knew it, it had been 10 years since the Tokyo-area woman had separated from society, becoming a hikikomori who spoke only to her husband and didn't leave her home. As the other attendees were heading home, she stopped to share her thoughts with this reporter. "Aside from relatives around New Year's and the counsellor I speak with at monthly sessions, this was the first time I spoke with anyone other than my husband this year," the woman said. She had heard about the events through her counsellor, and this was her third time attending. It was visibly apparent she remained nervous.

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