Have you ever seen in any anime or heard people talking about hikikomori or NEET? Have you ever wondered what these words mean? In this article, we will try to explain in detail what a Neet and a Hikikomori are, what the differences are, and how these terms originated. First, let’s start by talking about the Japanese word hikikomori.
Hikikomori (引き篭り) is a term that literally means isolated at home; it is used to refer to people who experience severe levels of isolation, usually young people between the ages of 13 and 39 who are often supported by their parents or work online. NEET is basically the same thing but has its differences.
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The problems of a Hikikomori or Neet
It is estimated that there are more than 1 million hikikomori or Neet scattered throughout Japan. This number cannot be counted exactly because they do not participate in anything in Japanese society, being true ghosts like the Johatsu who disappear without a trace.
These Japanese who live isolated in their rooms are already a serious public health issue. Thousands of young people find themselves in this situation due to the high degree of perfection demanded by Japanese society. Many people end up being pressured to the point of developing psychological problems.
Most of the time, Hikikomori or Neet tend to have low self-esteem, fear of people, fear of leaving their rooms, and in some cases even sociopathic tendencies. There are cases of 40-year-olds who are dependent on their parents and live isolated in their rooms, living on social media and in anonymity.
Often, young Hikikomoris socially exclude themselves even from their families, where mothers leave snacks at the door of their rooms for them to pick up. They interact with manga, anime, games, and the infinite choices they can have with the world of otaku.
What makes someone a Hikikomori?
People tend to become a Hikikomori for the following reasons:
- The high standard of perfection demanded by society;
- Low self-esteem;
- Many isolate themselves because they prefer fantasy over reality;
- Psychological disorders;
- Traumatic experiences;
- Excessive shyness;
- Depression;
- Anxiety;
- Panicking syndrome; Bipolarity;
- Schizoid personality, among other disorders;
- The ijime (bullying);
Many have suffered bullying or traumatic experiences at work or school, causing these people to become disillusioned with society as a whole, leading to a withdrawal from social interaction with everyone around them. At least some of the problems listed above are reasons for someone to be a hikikomori or Neet.
What is the difference between Hikikomori and Neet?
The word NEET (nitto;ニート) originated in the United Kingdom and has been used in other countries like Japan. This acronym literally means “Not currently engaged in Employment, Education or Training” which translates to “Currently without employment, education (not studying), and vocational training.
Basically, they are two words with different definitions. Hikikomori is used to refer to people who live isolated at home and never go out, while NEET refers to people who are idle, not studying or working, who consequently stay at home, but most of the time go out into the street without fear of other people.
The word NEET is very broad and is often used not only for idle people but for those who work from home or are looking for a job. Basically, NEETs are people who do not contribute to society, most of the time hikikomori.
Hikikomori Treatment Program
In 2007, the Japanese government implemented an assistance program for hikikomoris, where social workers establish contact with them through letters, phone calls, and then invite them to go out to the movies, parks, malls, encouraging social contact and consequently reducing the state of isolation.
These social workers are called “Super Sisters,” as they are female and manage to uplift many young males in this situation. A great example can be seen by watching the anime NHK ni Youkoso! In England, support groups for those suffering from the same problem have proven to be quite effective.
The treatment is done by encouraging the young person to engage in social, cultural, and sports activities. The first step is to be a trustworthy person and show that the patient can trust them, as hikikomoris are extremely sensitive to human interactions and became this way precisely because they do not trust people.
Animes that experience the life of Hikikomoris
Besides the mentioned NHK ni Youkoso that we highly recommend, there are other interesting animes that show the life and personality of a Hikikomori. Here are some below:
No Game No Life – The siblings Sora and Shiro are inseparable, both in the real world and in the gaming world. Their combined individual skills make them an unbeatable team: Sora, with his remarkable intuition and knowledge; and Shiro, with her intelligence that goes beyond that of a genius prodigy. In the real world, they are hikikomori, reclusive and anti-social, but in the gaming world, the two are part of the 『 』 (Kuuhaku (空白?lit. “blank space”)), a mysterious group of online players who win all games with an incredible score. The names of the players’ accounts are always left blank, so they are known as “blank.”
One day, after defeating a mysterious opponent in an online chess game, the siblings receive an offer from their opponent to be reborn in their world, Disboard – a fantasy world where everything is determined through games. When they accept the proposal, Sora and Shiro are summoned to Disboard by the God of that world, Tet, and begin to meet their adversaries. Together, the siblings embark on their journey to rescue the weak human race of Imanity and conquer the world to then challenge Tet for the title of God.
Kamisama no Memochou – This anime tells an investigative story where detective Alice and student Fujishima Narumi unravel mysterious urban cases with the help of various NEETs.
List of Hikikomori or Neet Animes
| Anime Name | Year |
| KonoSuba – God’s blessing on this wonderful world! Movie: Legend of Crimson | 2019 |
| No Game No Life | 2014 |
| Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- | 2016 |
| KonoSuba – God’s blessing on this wonderful world! 2 | 2017 |
| Welcome to the NHK! | 2006 |
| ReLIFE | 2016 |
| KonoSuba – God’s blessing on this wonderful world! 2 OVA | 2017 |
| KonoSuba – God’s blessing on this wonderful world! | 2016 |
| Eden of the East | 2009 |
| Recovery of an MMO Junkie | 2017 |
| KonoSuba – God’s blessing on this wonderful world! OVA | 2016 |
| Osomatsu-san The Movie | 2019 |
| Mr. Osomatsu | 2015 |
| Mr. Osomatsu 2nd Season | 2017 |
| Recovery of an MMO Junkie Special | 2017 |
| Heaven’s Memo Pad | 2011 |
| Btooom! | 2012 |
| Neeko ga VTuber Debut Shite Mita | 2018 |
| Mr. Osomatsu 3rd Season | 2020 |
Some isolated anime characters from our friend Thunderbout:
There are many other animes that have at least one character and show their life as hikikomori, some famous ones are:
- Denpa Kyoushi;
- Rozen Maiden;
- Sasami-san@Ganbaranai;
- ReLIFE;
- Chaos;Head;
- Danna ga Nani wo Itteiru ka Wakaranai Ken;
- Btooom;
- Satou Tatsuhiro (absolute favorite) – Welcome to the NHK
- Kaoru Yamazaki – NHK ni Youkoso!
- Kuroki Tomoko – NHK ni Youkoso!
- Jintan – Ano Hana
- Oreki Houtarou – Hyouka
- Lain – Serial Experiments Lain
- Ryuunosuke Akasaka – Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo
What do you think about Neet or Hikikomori? Do you know anyone? Do you know any anime or drama that portrays this situation? Comment and share with friends.
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