Thanks for reporting. This is tremendously sad. I think this has manifested in different ways in so many places. It seems most people have taken their social lives to social media and Zoom (and I think that this is a terrible, really terrible mistake).
It sure seems that way. Many had done so or were in the process of doing so, social media anyway, prior to lockdown mania. That hastened the transformation mightily.
Japan has long had a problem with “hikikomori”, (Spelling corrected, thanks Moonspinner!) shut ins. Those who for a variety of reasons simply do not want anything to do with human society outside their home. Lockdowns and fear of the dreaded Corona has dramatically increased these and may have expanded the definition to include those who do want human interaction but only online.
Just watched it. One thing I have my doubts about is that this is a new problem and due to Japanese society deteriorating. Japan has always been a society in which one’s worth was determined solely upon which group one was a part of. Hikikomori is just one route those who can not comply to the demands of their assigned groups take. Suicide is another, hence the high suicide rates here.
Japanese society and individuals call those who can not, will not or do not conform “weak” and “selfish”. Following the herd dispute one’s own feelings is considered “strength” here. Even today, the following custom persists; a young male employee being told he will marry the daughter of an executive of another company to cement a joint venture and the young woman told by her father that she will marry a young man from the company his company is doing business with. To refuse would be considered selfish. I am told this is still the norm with banks and the governmental agencies that regulate them. A famous example of arranged marriage is the current Emperor’s wife. My in-laws were married through Omiai, arranged marriage.
The damage is done. Those who knew are gone. Many of those who wished to learn have moved on to other endeavors. Others have been damaged internally after three years of fear and worse. Is there a greater evil than teaching the very young that their mere presence at grandma’s house could kill her?
Thanks heaps, Kitsune! Our wee ones will be helping carry the children's mikoshi at our local festival on Oct. 1st. You and yours are welcome to come, join in, and afterward crash at our place if you'd like a trip to these parts in a few weeks!
Thanks, would be fun. But given all the activities my wife has signed the oldest up for, swim practice every Saturday and Sunday morning and Juku and all the tests, not doable. Then we have the fact that she works for Pf and is a confirmed Covidian.
Thanks for reporting. This is tremendously sad. I think this has manifested in different ways in so many places. It seems most people have taken their social lives to social media and Zoom (and I think that this is a terrible, really terrible mistake).
It sure seems that way. Many had done so or were in the process of doing so, social media anyway, prior to lockdown mania. That hastened the transformation mightily.
Japan has long had a problem with “hikikomori”, (Spelling corrected, thanks Moonspinner!) shut ins. Those who for a variety of reasons simply do not want anything to do with human society outside their home. Lockdowns and fear of the dreaded Corona has dramatically increased these and may have expanded the definition to include those who do want human interaction but only online.
I found this interesting, and sad -- https://rumble.com/v3fmrze-japans-taboo-hikikomori.html
Just watched it. One thing I have my doubts about is that this is a new problem and due to Japanese society deteriorating. Japan has always been a society in which one’s worth was determined solely upon which group one was a part of. Hikikomori is just one route those who can not comply to the demands of their assigned groups take. Suicide is another, hence the high suicide rates here.
Japanese society and individuals call those who can not, will not or do not conform “weak” and “selfish”. Following the herd dispute one’s own feelings is considered “strength” here. Even today, the following custom persists; a young male employee being told he will marry the daughter of an executive of another company to cement a joint venture and the young woman told by her father that she will marry a young man from the company his company is doing business with. To refuse would be considered selfish. I am told this is still the norm with banks and the governmental agencies that regulate them. A famous example of arranged marriage is the current Emperor’s wife. My in-laws were married through Omiai, arranged marriage.
Thanks for this. Will finish watching it as soon as the wife goes back upstairs.
Depressing, hard to live and hard to read,
Like the mask ordeal, don't see any way it improves unless the people elect to break with it.
The damage is done. Those who knew are gone. Many of those who wished to learn have moved on to other endeavors. Others have been damaged internally after three years of fear and worse. Is there a greater evil than teaching the very young that their mere presence at grandma’s house could kill her?
Thanks heaps, Kitsune! Our wee ones will be helping carry the children's mikoshi at our local festival on Oct. 1st. You and yours are welcome to come, join in, and afterward crash at our place if you'd like a trip to these parts in a few weeks!
Thanks, would be fun. But given all the activities my wife has signed the oldest up for, swim practice every Saturday and Sunday morning and Juku and all the tests, not doable. Then we have the fact that she works for Pf and is a confirmed Covidian.
Normal has been transformed. Are people willing to accept the new normal?
I call it surreality and everyone seems to be just saying “Oh well”.