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  • In Japan, nearly a million young men have locked themselves in their bedrooms, and refuseto go outside.

  • to This phenomenon of isolation has been attributed as a side effect to Japanshighly competitive economy and culture.

  • So, how is Japan’s economy destroying their youth?

  • Japanese culture generally places a significant amount of emphasis on education and employment.

  • But in recent years, Japan has seen a significant downturn in their economic growth.

  • However, Japan’s recession isn’t the same as in most other countries.

  • Stores don’t go out of business, luxury spending continues, the fabric of society still seems comfortable.

  • But the lack of available new jobs does have a massive impact on younger generations.

  • With fewer jobs to go around, many Japanese men give up hope and withdraw from society. Furthermore,

  • the longer one is unemployed, the harder it is to find a job, since companies tend to

  • hire fresh out of high school and college.

  • Young adults and adolescents who confine themselves for long periods of time are calledhikikomori”.

  • They are among the generation of youths calledgrass eaters”, which are mostly

  • men who shy away from sexual relationships and general social contact. They tend to live

  • They tend to live at home with their parents, some well into their 40s.  Additionally, most Japanese youths

  • Additionally, most Japanese youths are expected to provide for their families,

  • putting tremendous stress and pressure on them to succeed.

  • The weak economy also puts a strain on relationships, as many Japanese women refuse to date unemployed

  • men, considering them weak and effeminate. Japan’s government has warned that more

  • than one and a half million are on the verge of becoming hikikomori. An estimated 700,000

  • hikikomori have already locked themselves away.

  • The influx of socially anxious men has created big changes for Japan, including a massive

  • drop in birth rates to record lows, and a shift in consumer habits away from a more

  • masculine-drivenculture. Studies have shown that as much as 75% of men in their

  • 20s and 30s consider themselvesgrass eaters”. Considering the depth of culture associating

  • success and hard work with self identity in Japan, it will take significant social effort

  • and a better economy to improve this epidemic.

  • To learn more about Japan’s doomed youth, and the emerginghermitculture, check

  • out this Seeker Daily video! Thanks for watching, and remember to like and subscribe!

In Japan, nearly a million young men have locked themselves in their bedrooms, and refuseto go outside.

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