The Japan Times among other media news sites reports on the status of hikikomori in Japan. A recent survey by the Cabinet Office concludes that there are 1.5 million hikikomori in Japan, the number having increaed because of the societal affects of the COVID period. About 2% of the population aged 15 to 62 have become recluses.
“The cabinet office surveyed 30,000 people between the ages of 10 and 69 across Japan last November. The poll found that just over a fifth of respondents aged 15-39 had been socially isolated from six months to less than a year. More than 20% said they had experienced problems with interpersonal relationships, while just over 18% cited the pandemic.” — The Guardian.
URLs: Japan Times: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/04/01/national/hikikomori-numbers-pandemic/; The Guardian (UK): https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/03/japan-says-15-million-people-living-as-recluses-after-covid
A review of statistical and sociological methods applied to the study of hikikomori is offered by a 2023 article published by the International Journal ofEnvironmental Research and Public Health titled “Hikikomori: A Scientometric Review of 20 Years of Research.”