Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University

Activities of students and members of the Japan Centre in the Faculty of Asian Studies.

YouTube videos

These YouTube videos were created by students who took Dr Carol Hayes's Advanced Japanese iPod course in Semester 1 2007.

The clips, at:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaJ5NOqPKo4
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDJ5rRp5S7g&mode=related&search=

are segments of one of the class presentations.

The scenario was about a reclusive young man, suffering from the phenomena of hikikomori [lit: pulling away or confined]. The term is used to refer to individuals, all too often young men, who choose to withdraw from the world, from social contact, seeking out extreme isolation as a results of various personal and social issues in their lives. It is similar to the 'otaku' phenomenon.

One of the students plays the role of a 'hikikomori' young man, another a friend who is trying to help him overcome his desire for withdrawal. Two others play a physciatrist and another a stylist who gave our hikikomori a new look to help him have more confidence in dealing with the world.