The phenomenon of social withdrawal by people uneasy about interacting with others is a common problem in Japan, especially among teenagers, the results of a survey indicate.
According to a nationwide survey conducted by leading education critic Naoki Ogi, about 60 percent of respondents said they felt social withdrawal was a "familiar problem," while 29 percent said they knew of such sufferers.
The survey of about 2,900 individuals, conducted in November and December and released Tuesday, is the first on the issue, Ogi said. Of the respondents, 24 percent were teachers and 28 percent were parents, he said.