This is sad but not remotely shocking. Japan overall is a very lonely society based around distractions, whether that's the bright lights, work, pachinko, mobile games, whatever it may be. So many already replace friends with pretend people such as anime characters. The commoness of people who have huge pillows representing their favourite character that for them is a bedtime friend, that they talk to is far too comm…
>Japan overall is a very lonely society Have you been to the local festivals where everyone knows everyone's names? Have you been to riverside bbq parties where multiple families hangout all day together? Have you been a part of company or community clubs? Have you observed how an overwhelming number of people have multiple-times-per-year gatherings with the university friends, middle-school friends and even kinderga…
Re: 1 in 4 people in Japan believes AI could replace friends and family: poll
#11Those are all distractions being done together. I'm very pleased you don't feel lonely but many millions in Japan do. Hence such a high rate of suicide, such a high rate of isolation, such a high rate of people who do have virtual connections over real world connections. It's partially as the need to be who they are can not be met by such a restrictive society. They can't find people who will be open with them. People who will be there at your lowest, back you no matter how you want to live, back you when you move outside of the norms. You are likely aided by not being born in Japan to two Japanese parents of Japanese heritage etc. The same expectations are not set on anyone from outside of Japan. But those expectations induce a desire to find a distraction and just push down feelings that you should express and feel supported by.