A tsunami of new hikikomori another lost generation in Japan

According to one recent article, "Given that the earthquake and its aftermath will likely bring pre-existing cases of hikikomori to clinical attention for the first time, and cause brand new cases as well, Japan will face an unprecedented need for psychiatric services, far more than would be expected in similar crises in other countries."

And what's a hikikomori? A 2006 NPR piece describes them as "mostly young men who lock themselves away in their bedrooms, fearful of society's expectations."

Sounds like a different flavor of agoraphobia.

Image source.