Throughout history, humans have developed different cultures around the world. Within the many cultures and countries of the world you can also find many different “subcultures” that have appeared over the years. Merriam Webster's online dictionary defines a subculture as: "an ethnic, regional, economic, or social group that displays characteristic patterns of behavior sufficient to distinguish it from others within a comprehensive culture or society" (Merriam-Webster). That being said, this essay will look at a subculture unique to Japan, called: “Hikikomori”. Hikikomori have become a big problem in Japan. Practically interpreted as “social retreat,” hikikomori refers to “the state of anomie into which a growing number of young Japanese seem to fall these days.” Therefore, to understand the hikikomori subculture, one should first learn what exactly hikikomori is, its effects on the individual involved in the subculture as well as the family and friends surrounding the hikikomori, and finally how and when this subculture began . Hikikomori is a group of people who avoid social contact and lock themselves in their bedrooms, rejecting any contact with the outside world. They live in reverse: they sleep all day, wake up in the evening and stay up all night watching television or playing video games (Jhon). Some have computers or cell phones, but most have few or no friends. People within this subculture often give up attending secondary school and if they have graduated they often don't look for it, young people interrupt relationships with friends, but they can chat with more people via the Internet both from home and via the web... ... middle of paper ......uku, preparing for high school. and university entrance exam (Jhon). As discussed in the preface, when examining a subculture such as hikikomori it is imperative to evaluate the basis of said subculture, its effects, and its origins. The hikikomori subculture has caused much concern in Japan, and some commentators fear a serious youth crisis with implications for public health, social integration and economic participation. While there is some evidence to support the idea that acute social withdrawal has become more common, it is important not to exaggerate the prevalence or attempt to reduce the explanation to individual psychological distress. However interpreted, labor statistics simply do not support the idea that the number of hikikomori is around one million and it is likely that the numbers are closer to 200,000 (Several).