Japanese teenagers

I saw a great doco last night on Japan's lost teenagers. It examined the relatively new syndrome called hikikimora (I think that's how its spelt). Basically, its becoming a recluse in your bedroom. One mother said she hadn't seen her son for four years even though he slept in the next room. Parents enable their children with this behaviour by bring them food etc. They are scared to do anything as it is a shame on the parents and they don't want their neighbours to know about it. Has anyone heard about this. Apparently it is an exclusively Japanese problem in its character and reflects many of Japan's social mores and structures.