#Pal System #Miyamoto Akira #Hikikomori

Nationwide Caravan to Raise Awareness About Hikikomori

Miyamoto Akira, a renowned director, has initiated a national caravan titled "Hikikomori VOICE STATION" in collaboration with the Pal System Union, aimed at spreading awareness about hikikomori individuals across Japan. This initiative is a part of the "Hikikomori Public Relations Project" and commenced on August 23, 2023, at the Vision Center in Yokohama Minato Mirai, drawing 243 participants both on-site and online.

A Graph of Life Experiences

The caravan will travel until November 8, 2023, covering six prefectures including Kanagawa, Kochi, Akita, Niigata, Nara, and Oita. Its goal is to foster understanding for those experiencing hikikomori by addressing societal intolerance towards diversity.

The event kicked off in Yokohama, hosted by Miyamoto Akira who facilitated a workshop called the "Life Drama Graph Workshop." Participants, including hikikomori individuals and their families, reflected on their past experiences, illustrating the ups and downs of their emotions through a graph format. During the workshop, Miyamoto shared his own life graph and facilitated discussions with eight participants, guiding them through their personal stories and feelings.

Miyamoto, who grew up in a coffee shop near the Shimbashi Enbujō, was immersed in the arts from a young age, developing interests in traditional Japanese dance, Buddhist statue appreciation, and tea ceremony. However, his desire to fit in led him to perform a kind of self-censorship, which resulted in social isolation. This loneliness deepened during his first year of high school when he became a recluse for about a year.

It was not until a confrontation between his parents that Miyamoto found the courage to leave his room. After being taken to a psychiatrist by his father, he felt genuinely heard and accepted, which allowed him to eventually return to school.

Turning Pain into Purpose

Miyamoto drew on his love for classical music and musicals during his hikikomori years, which inspired him to pursue a career in theater. He shared a particularly poignant moment when his mother passed away from a brain aneurysm just before the opening day of a performance. He recalled feeling as if he was