Japan Says 1.5M Living as Recluses After Pandemic
&gt; Large numbers of hikikomori said they had begun retreating from mainstream society due to relationship issues and after losing or leaving their jobs, the cabinet office said. A significant proportion – 20.6% – said their predicament had been triggered by changes in lifestyle imposed during the pandemic.<p>This really worries me—relationships are vital for so many people to have a happy and fulfilling life and for society to function that increases in the amount of people who simply choose to <i>leave</i> society from what seems to be relationship or economic troubles could have massive negative effects on society as a whole. Is society a happier place when people don&#x27;t have constructive relationships? Are people themselves happier?<p>Also, this is a bit off topic but does anyone else feel that relationship quality on a societal level has gone down a lot? I feel that the majority of relationships and marriages say 60-70 years ago were happy and mutually fulfilling, but now anecdotally it seems that most people are not happy whatsoever.