東京理科大学 A英3: Hikikomori・引きこもり

Hello!

How are you? Here is a post to go with our theme of issues. Here is an issue that is big in society, and has been big for some time - hikikomori. What are your views about hikikomori and what they might need to re-enter society? 

Activity/homework
Click on this link. It's a short Japanese news documentary about hikikomori and the efforts of a special school, called One Step, that intervenes (取りなして) in family situations where there are hikikomori, and tries to help them take the first steps to integrate (溶け込む) back into society. 

Watch the video from the link as many times as you need to. When you are finished, answer these questions in your notebook about the different parts of the video: 

1. Where is the man living, and how long has been living in his room?

2. How does his parents feel about his situation?

3. How much money have they lost because of his situation?
4. How did he react when the One Step School people tried to interview him? 

5. What were some of the things that the man had written in the letters? 

6. What was his job? 

7. What did Hirooka-san from the One Step School say about hikikomori?

8. According to the newspaper story in the video, about how many hikikomori are there? 

Task 

Now look at your notes and write 1-2 paragraphs about what you think of what 
hikikomori need. What are your ideas about how they can re-enter society? 

If you believe that hikikomori are not society's problem and that they should not be given 
any help, give your reasons why.

I know this is also a deeper topic than what some of you have done before - so I will give 
some extra time to you for trying with this topic.

Good luck! Take care!

Image: By S. Schmidt (Benutzer: lonestar84, eigenes Foto) - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 2.0 de, 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8530805