The first wave of young new graduates having problems finding work hit in the early to mid 90's, when the Japanese bubble crashed. The new grads for the rest of the 90s were called "the lost generation", with many of them never being able to find full time work. (the period was also called "The First Employment Ice Age")
That was roughly 20 years ago. This massive wave of underemployed, often-unmarried folks are now in their late 30s. The middle-aged, unemployed, clinically depressed, hikikkomori problem is about to get a whole lot worse in the coming decades (the graduating classes of 2010-2012 were hit really hard too after the financial crisis. This era was called "The Second Employment Ice Age". The class of 2009 was the last class that really had it good in the 2000s.)
So did the internet. You couldn't be a hikikomori before then... you were simply a recluse. That was a psychological condition reserved for the 'crazy old...'
That was roughly 20 years ago. This massive wave of underemployed, often-unmarried folks are now in their late 30s. The middle-aged, unemployed, clinically depressed, hikikkomori problem is about to get a whole lot worse in the coming decades (the graduating classes of 2010-2012 were hit really hard too after the financial crisis. This era was called "The Second Employment Ice Age". The class of 2009 was the last class that really had it good in the 2000s.)