Sharp Increase in Reclusive Middle-Aged Women in Japan: "Without Husband, Can't Leave the House"

Among Reclusive Individuals Aged 40-64, 52.3% Are Women
Cut Off All Relationships Except Marriage Partners... Hurt by Prejudice

In Japan, where "hikikomori" (social withdrawal) has long been recognized as a social issue, a recent survey revealed that women constitute more than half of middle-aged hikikomori. Until now, the image of hikikomori has been predominantly associated with "young men confined to their rooms," which has overshadowed the issue. However, even after marriage, some individuals continue to be socially withdrawn to the extent that they cannot leave their homes without their spouse. Notably, the problem has remained under the radar due to prejudices such as "What’s the problem if they are married?" or "Aren’t they just staying home to do housework?"

On the 7th, Asahi Shimbun cited a recent survey by the Child and Family Agency, reporting that among middle-aged hikikomori aged 40 to 64, women accounted for 52.3%, exceeding half. Among those aged 15 to 39, women made up 45.1%. This essentially means that the gender ratio among hikikomori is roughly equal.

Kyoko Hayashi, representative of the Japan Hikikomori UX Association, who herself was once a hikikomori and now leads a support organization, told Asahi, "Numbers that reveal the actual situation have finally emerged." Because the issue of female hikikomori had not been clearly recognized, some local governments questioned the need to support women when creating self-reliance measures.

Hayashi pointed out that among female hikikomori, some have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault, making it easy for them to turn away if government offices have male staff or if support groups are predominantly male.

Asahi reported that middle-aged hikikomori show somewhat different patterns compared to adolescents or young adults. Over 90% of middle-aged hikikomori have work experience, and more than 70% have the desire to work. Among them, a high proportion reportedly suffered emotional wounds due to workplace bullying or harassment.

For married middle-aged women, social withdrawal often manifests as severing all social relationships except with their spouse. If they cannot depend on their spouse, they may return to their parental home and remain secluded. An anonymous middle-aged female hikikomori interviewed by Asahi said, "I cannot go out without my husband’s help. Even after marriage, nothing changes. I don’t meet people or have the energy to work. Originally, I would have depended on my parents for financial support and everything else, but now the dependency has just shifted to my husband."

Social prejudice further causes these individuals to withdraw even more. Another woman shared, "I mustered the courage to attend a hikikomori self-help group, but another member said that if you are married, you are not a hikikomori, and that it’s fine to just be a housewife. Even if you are confined at home, the burdens of housework, caregiving, and childcare remain. Not being able to go outside leaves only suffering that cannot be relieved."

Experts emphasize that society needs to recognize that hikikomori manifests in diverse forms. Teppei Sekimizu, a sociology professor at Meiji Gakuin University, explained, "Hikikomori does not simply mean not leaving the house or room; it refers to various states where individuals do not work or attend school and participate in only limited social groups. The problem lies more in feelings of self-negation and having no place in society than in the frequency of going out. This makes it difficult to work and sustain life."

Professor Sekimizu also stressed that hikikomori should not be viewed solely as an individual problem. He said, "For teenage hikikomori, the school education system is often an issue, while for middle-aged individuals, the side effects of the labor market are frequently problematic. The backgrounds differ by generation. Additionally, there are structural societal problems, such as a system where one cannot live without regular employment, and social security systems designed on a generational basis that force dependence on family."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.