Hikikomori might be a Japanese term, but its not a Japanese phenomenon. I know dozens of my American friends who do the same thing -- hide from seemingly unprecedented expectations and similarly daunting odds, hide from society in alcohol, in television, in dual 2560x1600 monitors, even in exercise.
(My room was video games, and I'm glad I found the doorknob.)
(My room was video games, and I'm glad I found the doorknob.)