THE HIKIKOMORI PHENOMENON: TRADITION, EDUCATION AND INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT)

Traditionally considered as unique to Japan, the hikikomori phenomenon has been spreading in recent years to other developed countries in the Western world. From a philosophical-educational perspective, and thus by means of the critical analysis of texts, this paper tries to tackle what is already considered an epidemic by many authors. We will show, on the one hand, that the main reason for the occurrence of this phenomenon in Japan is a strong conflict between an individualistic society and a, still very present, collectivistic cultural tradition. On the other hand, we will verify that the same conflict is beginning to occur in the Western world thanks to the growing collectivistic ideal offered by information and communication technologies (ICT). Consequently, the effects in the Western world and in Japan are becoming similar. As a conclusion, we support the recovery of an education for subjectivity development that tries to overcome this conflict.