JNPOC’s study of support organizations for school refusal and hikikomori published SpecialNews

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Posted on October 16, 2024

With support from Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the Japan NPO Center conducted a survey in 2023 to gather data on the daily operations, organizational structures, and challenges faced by groups that support individuals experiencing school refusal and hikikomori*. The aim of this survey is to contribute to the improvement and development of these organizations. We reached out to 138 support organizations across Japan, all of which generously participated in the survey.

*Hikikomori refers to individuals who withdraw from social life and spend an excessive amount of time alone in their rooms.

 

  • More than half of the organizations support both school refusers and hikikomori populations. Most have annual budgets ranging from 10 to 30 million yen, with 70% operating on budgets below 30 million yen.
  • The survey revealed that “providing a safe space” is the primary focus for organizations supporting both school refusers and hikikomori. Additionally, over 90% of these organizations collaborate with external partners to deliver their services.
  • Over 30% of the organizations are working to improve the visibility of their programs. The most common operational challenge reported is diversifying funding sources, with many organizations hoping for an increase in public funding.

 

Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, many organizations seem to be steadfast in their commitment to providing safe spaces for individuals. In their comments, many highlighted the importance of human connection, even during a time when social distancing was necessary.

The end of summer vacation can be a particularly challenging time for children, as the risk of suicide among young people tends to increase during this period. We hope that more people will become aware of the safe spaces being established across Japan to support children’s well-being.

Lastly, JNPOC would like to express our sincere gratitude to Takeda Pharmaceutical for their generous support in conducting this research, and to all the NPO representatives who kindly participated in our survey.

 

 

Research Report on the Activities of Organizations Supporting School Refusal and Hikikomori (in Japanese)
https://www.jnpoc.ne.jp/1100/news20240822/

  • Survey Period: May 16 to May 26, 2023
  • Survey Request Method: Direct requests were sent to 411 organizations.
    1. Target organizations were extracted from the JNPOC’s NPO Hiroba database based on the inclusion of terms such as futoko (school refusal) or hikikomori in their articles of incorporation.
    2. Additionally, requests were sent to organizations focused on supporting individuals with school refusal and hikikomori.
  • Survey Method: A web-based survey.
  • Number of Responding Organizations: 138 organizations (Response rate: 33.6%, 138/411)

Original Japanese text by Eiji Ueda (JNPOC’s Deputy Managing Director), initially posted on NPO CROSS on August 28, 2024; edited and translated by JNPOC.

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