Edogawa Ward in Tokyo plans to make use of metaverse tech to assist social recluses, also referred to as “hikikomori,” start to combine with society once more. The ward will manage a sequence of hybrid (digital and in-person) conferences this yr with the target of reuniting individuals with social reclusion issues and serving to them of their reintegration course of.
Edogawa Ward to Leverage the Metaverse in Hikikomori Reintegration Processes
Edogawa Ward, positioned in Tokyo, introduced that it’s going to supply a sequence of metaverse conferences as a part of the reintegration course of for social recluses within the space. The conferences will probably be held in hybrid kind, with social recluses having the chance of attending in individual or on-line, permitting a secure haven for assembly and speaking about their widespread issues.
There will probably be six of those occasions in 2023, organized by the Kazoku Hikikomori Japan nonprofit, with a capability for as much as 80 members, 50 within the metaverse platform, and 30 within the designated venue. The conferences will probably be held in a metaverse house designed by Kazoku Hikikomori, with distant customers with the ability to defend their identities utilizing avatars if desired.
About this initiative, a ward officer defined:
We need to supply a spot the place they’d suppose ‘I need to be there with the others.’
The Hikikomori Difficulty
The social exclusion (or hikikomori) drawback in Japan is a situation that impacts some people, who seclude themselves from society and decline to have any interplay with others. This situation is estimated to have an effect on greater than 1 million Japanese, with consultants contemplating the quantity to be greater, nearer to the two million mark.
This situation could cause issues within the households of those people, who should present for them, inflicting financial pressure. The inclusion of metaverse-based methods in coping with this phenomenon might ostensibly assist a few of these people to at the least work together just about with their friends.
Based on a 2021 survey, 9,096 residents had been hikikomori in Edogawa. On the attain of this motion and its significance, Edogawa Ward Mayor Takeshi Saito acknowledged:
We don’t suppose all the things will probably be solved simply because we provide a metaverse. It’ll most likely be useful for some individuals. We’re concentrating on those that can’t go away their rooms and haven’t been interacting with different individuals. We need to assist them take a step ahead.
One other initiative of this type, concentrating on faculty absenteeism in Toda Metropolis, was introduced in October, additionally utilizing metaverse tech to permit college students to roam digital campuses whereas making ready to attend common lessons finally.
What do you consider using metaverse tech to assist in fixing the social reclusion drawback? Inform us within the feedback part under.
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