A million men locked in their bedrooms. The country notices, but nobody knocks.
In Japan, a million young men have shut the door on real life. Almost one man in ten in his late teens and early twenties is refusing to leave his home – many do not leave their bedrooms for years on end.
Direction
Conway's restraint lets subjects speak without exploitation.
Editing
Unhurried pacing mirrors the stillness it documents.
Director
Darren Conway
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Hikikomori became a recognized phenomenon in 1990s Japan, tied to economic collapse and rigid social expectations. The West now faces similar spikes in young male isolation.
Conway filmed families who initially agreed, then withdrew—explaining the sparse runtime and fragmentary structure.
US
GB
