Social isolation (hikikomori) of shut-ins & one program's responses in central Japan

Something like 1.5 million people around the Japanese islands isolate themselves from general social interaction by some estimates. This news story describes a school/training program in the middle of the country for people ages 14 to 46 who seek structure and guidance to return in some way to independent living in wider society.

Outside of Japan, too, other countries are recognizing a similar phenomenon of social isolation. So the approach detailed in this story may be of interest outside of the Japanese context.

Usually the online Japan-Times only shows 1 or 2 paragraphs, unless you subscribe.

But this article if for everyone to read. So they do not block the full text.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/05/31/lifestyle/hikikomori-shut-ins-rehabilitation-nagano/

Japanese city overview - 360 perspective

A friend in rural west Japan (Echizen-city, Fukui-ken) sent this 360-degree image after recent snows, early February 2025. Thanks to the blanket of white, many of the buildings and lanes stand out. Seeing an old city this way certainly adds a new dimension to verbal portraits of a place.

The town is associated with Lady Murasaki Shikibu & The Tale of Genji, what UNESCO has called the first novel that was written. During Edo times the town was Fuchu. Later in Meiji the name became Takefu. Then in 2005 they merged with nextdoor Imadate to form the city of Echizen today.

Like any still photo, it captures a specific moment in time, making it possible to revisit again and again in future generations, thus contributing to a long perspective for understanding a place and its people. 

[technical note] His UAV is a DJI-Mini, https://tinyurl.com/snowy2025daihoji