Creating a Society Capable of Supporting 30,000 Hikikomori and School Absentees Nationwide at All Times
Good Life Japan aims to establish a nationwide outreach support system by sharing its specialized know-how with 1,000 municipalities, ensuring that 30,000 isolated individuals can receive home-visit support at any given time.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 2, 2026 at 02:40
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 18:37
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 07:23 (468h 45m after Collected)
General Incorporated Association Good Life Japan is an advocate for 'April Dream,' a project where companies and organizations share their dreams for the future on April 1st. Our dream is to create a society where anyone isolated from society—such as individuals in social withdrawal (hikikomori) or children not attending school—can encounter 'supporters who come to visit them' right in their local communities.
Currently, it is estimated that there are 1.46 million hikikomori and over 350,000 school absentees in Japan. While there are many 'drop-in' centers and employment support facilities nationwide, a bridge is needed to connect those currently in isolation to such services. However, there are very few supporters nationwide capable of 'outreach'—visiting those who 'do not want to meet' or 'cannot go for consultation.'
We want to change this situation. At Good Life Japan (based in Hokuto City, Yamanashi; Representative Director: Shiro Kawada), we have been working to connect isolated individuals with society through our visit-based support. We consistently support 30 individuals at any time, and approximately 80% of those who receive our support recover their connection to society. We also place heavy importance on counseling for the parents.
However, compared to the scale of the national issue, the number of people a single organization can support is limited to a few hundred. This is simply not enough. Therefore, our dream is to root a system in each municipality capable of supporting 30 people through home visits. This can be achieved if about 10 welfare or health department staff members participate concurrently, or if there are 3 dedicated specialists. If implemented in 1,000 municipalities, it would lead to support for 30,000 people annually.
To make this dream a reality, we will work to turn our know-how into a 'social asset.' We will not keep our on-site knowledge to ourselves but will instead systematize and spread it. Through training and lectures for local governments and support organizations, we will take steps toward building a nationwide infrastructure where help comes to those who need it most.
Currently, it is estimated that there are 1.46 million hikikomori and over 350,000 school absentees in Japan. While there are many 'drop-in' centers and employment support facilities nationwide, a bridge is needed to connect those currently in isolation to such services. However, there are very few supporters nationwide capable of 'outreach'—visiting those who 'do not want to meet' or 'cannot go for consultation.'
We want to change this situation. At Good Life Japan (based in Hokuto City, Yamanashi; Representative Director: Shiro Kawada), we have been working to connect isolated individuals with society through our visit-based support. We consistently support 30 individuals at any time, and approximately 80% of those who receive our support recover their connection to society. We also place heavy importance on counseling for the parents.
However, compared to the scale of the national issue, the number of people a single organization can support is limited to a few hundred. This is simply not enough. Therefore, our dream is to root a system in each municipality capable of supporting 30 people through home visits. This can be achieved if about 10 welfare or health department staff members participate concurrently, or if there are 3 dedicated specialists. If implemented in 1,000 municipalities, it would lead to support for 30,000 people annually.
To make this dream a reality, we will work to turn our know-how into a 'social asset.' We will not keep our on-site knowledge to ourselves but will instead systematize and spread it. Through training and lectures for local governments and support organizations, we will take steps toward building a nationwide infrastructure where help comes to those who need it most.