"Hikikomori" and Japan's Role in the World

Jul 2, 2008

Michael Zielenziger discusses Japan's hikikomori, bright young people who opt to live as shut-ins because they don't fit in a society of high conformity and low entrepreneurship.

Author Michael Zielenziger (Shutting Out the Sun: How Japan Created Its Own Lost Generation) discusses the sociology of Japan's hikikomori—bright, creative people in their working years who choose to live as shut-ins because they don't fit in a society of high conformity and low entrepreneurship. He believes that stagnant governance and a values crisis are weakening Japan's competitive position in the world.

You may also like

MAY 30, 2023 Podcast

Expectations, with David Robson

In this episode, host Hilary Sutcliffe explores . . . expectation from another angle. Her guest David Robson delves into the science of expectation in his award-winning new ...

Blue vector

MAY 24, 2023 Article

Silicon Valley is knowingly violating ethical AI principles. Society can’t respond if we let disagreements poison the debate.

With criticism of ChatGPT much in the news, we are also increasingly hearing about disagreements among thinkers who are critical of AI, writes Carnegie-Uehiro Fellow ...

empty United Nations General Assembly hall

MAY 22, 2023 Article

Sitting on the Sidelines: The Global Divide on Ukraine

As a UN vote in February revealed, the world is divided on how to respond to Russia's continuing war against Ukraine. Carnegie Council President Joel ...