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Scotland’s hermit sites

The Scotsman offers a photographic essay titled “Scotland’s hermit hideaways: the caves, castles and hideaways once home to those seeking a solitary life.”

“Caves, old bothies and even islands have been used by those needing space, sanctuary and shelter over the years. From the former bank worker from Dundee who lived in a cave for more that 20 years to the little castle on a Highland beach by an architect needing some time out, here we look at the stories of nine hermits and the places that they called home.” Here are nine photos of historical interest.

URL: https://www.scotsman.com/heritage/scotland-s-hermit-hideaways-the-caves-castles-and-hideaways-once-home-to-those-seeking-a-solitary-life-1-4916012

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British “hikikomori”

The Daily Mail (UK) reports on the equivalent of British hikikomori in an article titled “Rise of the ‘hermit kids’: More than 40,000 British teenagers are locking themselves away for months over anxiety about their futures and obsession with social media.” The study was conducted by the University of Glasgow.

URL: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6869071/More-40-000-British-teenagers-locking-away-months-anxiety-future.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

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Japan’s adult hikikomori

While traditionally the hikikomori of Japan have been defined as adolescents and young adults, a recent Japan government study reports that over half a million additional recluses are adults. An editorial in the Japan Times summarizes the issue:

“A recent Cabinet Office estimate that there are some 613,000 people aged 40 to 64 who have shut themselves up at home without working or interacting with others outside of their family over an extended period confirms that the issue of hikikomori (recluse), which used to be deemed a problem mainly among adolescents and youths, has been spreading among the middle-aged population.”

URL: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2019/04/05/editorials/measures-needed-address-social-recluse-problem; https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Japan-s-middle-aged-recluses-reveal-lasting-damage-of-hiring-ice-age; https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20180430/p2a/00m/0na/011000c

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Castaways exhibit

The Sunday Post (UK) reports on an exhibition and conference on the topic of “300 years of solitude: Why we remain fascinated by world’s most famous castaway three centuries on: From Swiss Family Robinson to Castaway, Gilligan’s Island to Lost, the story of castaways washed up on desert islands has intrigued us for centuries.” The historical shipwrecked sailor Alexander Selkirk was the model for Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.

URL: https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/300-years-of-solitude-why-we-remain-fascinated-by-worlds-most-famous-castaway-three-centuries-on/