Furatto Rehabilitation, Inclusion & Engagement for New Development (FRIEND)

Date : April 22, 2025 18:00 - 20:30 Location : Akita University, Faculty of Medicine Hosted by : Department of Community Psychosomatic Medicine & Furatto (Daisen City) As part of our ongoing efforts to create transnational dialogues around youth mental health and social withdrawal (hikikomori), we welcomed a group of psychiatric residents from Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Italy, to join a public seminar titled “Psychiatry in Italy” at Akita University. This event was held in collaboration with the local outreach center Furatto , a low-threshold drop-in space for socially withdrawn youth in Daisen City. The seminar provided an opportunity to learn directly from Italy’s next generation of psychiatrists about their country’s unique approach to mental health care, rooted in the deinstitutionalization movement and the development of community-based services. Through a bilingual presentation (English with Japanese interpretation), the Italian residents shared f...

Having my own department—albeit one with a relatively unimportant role—has been an unexpected blessing. I don’t have to attend unnecessary faculty meetings or engage in departmental politics. It’s just me. This independence gives me space to manage my time, explore the field, and, more importantly, learn. Being free to travel to Europe for conferences and stay on for fieldwork and teaching is a luxury—one that few scholars tethered tightly to institutions can afford. It’s not just about the funding; it’s the freedom. And I’m deeply grateful to those who’ve made it possible: the friends who offered a couch, a meal, a ticket, a quiet restroom, or just a moment of prayer. With each small act, they’ve contributed to something much larger. My journey into public health led me to the phenomenon of hikikomori, which in turn opened doors to understand internet addiction and a host of other modern afflictions among young adults—what some might call the condition of being “unfit” for today’...

  FRIEND – Furatto Rehabilitation, Inclusion & Engagement for New Development About the Blog FRIEND is an international research and outreach blog dedicated to the adaptation of the Furatto model for hikikomori rehabilitation worldwide. Our goal is to explore and implement community-based, inclusive, and evidence-driven approaches to support individuals experiencing social withdrawal (hikikomori). This blog serves as a platform for: ✅ Research Updates – Sharing insights from the Furatto International Adaptation Project ✅ Global Collaboration – Connecting researchers, practitioners, and policymakers ✅ Community Support – Providing resources for families and professionals ✅ Cultural Exchange – Understanding how hikikomori rehabilitation varies across Japan, Italy, Hong Kong, and beyond Why "FRIEND"? The name reflects our mission: Furatto Rehabilitation – Rooted in the Japanese Furatto model, adapted internationally Inclusion & Engagement – Promoting ...