@SakuraDust:

The thing about it, though, is that English has borrowed plenty of words from other languages that we use on an every day basis. I think the ODE is pretty much known for their lax standards, though, so they mostly go with what's popular in terms of new additions.

One more word in the dictionary, one step closer for the Otaku's to rule the world!! We will be free to eat all the pocky and rice balls we want while having an anime and manga marathon! >8D
But really, my true nature has finally been realized. -is all hikikomori like-
But the difference is, I'm not male... :/

When a word is used often enough by people in the US they just slap it in the dictionary. That's why they can have up to hundreds of new words every time a new dictionary is published. Most of it is slang, I suppose...

But really, I'm not suprised.

@Ace:

Oh yeah, it does seem similar to agoraphobia. *bonks head for forgetting his abnormal psychology lessons*

I was also thinking of another disorder similar to it, and I just remembered that the name was avoidant personality disorder. However, it seems to apply more for early adults than adolescent males, unless if it's given an exception.

And yeah, gotta say you made a valid point on the difference of hikikimori and mental disorders.

@The Mask:

Actually, there is one English term that comes pretty close to the same definition as Hikikomori; Agoraphobia, the fear of being in a social setting were you might embarrass yourself in some way, which in extreme cases manifests itself in someone never leaving their house.

Granted, there is a small difference between the two words. Agoraphobia is considered a mental disorder while Hikikomori seems to refer to the social aspect more than the psychology behind it.

By the way, the definition singling out adolescent males is complete bullcrap. Most anime Hikikomori I know of are female.

Well, I'm not too familiar with this word. But from the way I see it, I might actually have some hikikomori tendencies. With that in mind, its entry in the dictionary is okay for me.

I think the reason that it got included is that it's a mental or psychological condition of sorts that might be a bit culture-specific and may have no appropriate term in the English language. It might be like the word amok, which refers to a certain mental condition present only in certain Asian countries (can't really elaborate much on the details of it, though).

@Kei:

Very, very true. All those Ks gotta be worth something, eh?

@Nehszriah:

More importantly, you can tell people who play Scrabble that it's in the dictionary. That's a lot of points, right there.

@Desbreko:

I'm being told by my friends to not become a hikikomori all the time, so maybe it's just found more often in different circles...? :D? I dunno, but at least now I can tell people that it's not jibber-jabber and in the dictionary.

@Desbreko:

I didn't know enough hikikomori anime to make a proper choice. :V

This seems like an odd choice as I don't see the word used much even among anime fans.

Also, you totally should've used a picture of Kiri from Zetsubou Sensei for this.

I didn't think this was a word used often enough to be included in a dictionary, even if it just talks about how words are used, I assume English or otherwise. I mean, I realize this particular dictionary is used to explain more how English is spoken, and not maybe specifically English words, but as I said, I guess I don't hear this word used enough for me to personally think it would be included.

Just a thought. :P

I say that one day, "kawaii" will be in there, too. Called it! XD