Japan's Covid crisis creates 1.5 million social recluses.

A government survey in Japan has found that almost 1.5 million people of working age are living as social recluses, with about a fifth of cases attributed to the pressures unleashed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Hikikomori, people who withdraw from society and spend all or almost all of their time isolated at home, account for 2% of people aged 15-62. The rise in the number of people living as recluses has prompted some local authorities to take action, including holding metaverse socialising events to give hikikomori the opportunity to meet people via their avatars.