There is a trend in Japan where people are increasingly favouring doing activities on their own. It has been termed ‘ohitorisama’ or ‘being on your own’. Social activities that are usually enjoyed with a group of people such as karaoke, watching movies, or even going to theme parks now have arrangements specially catered for solo-goers. Businesses are catching on consumer patterns and starting to offer goods and services to meet such needs.
Read the full article on Channel NewsAsia: Going solo: ‘Ohitorisama’ or the Japanese art of doing it alone
Analysis:
Although it is commonly said that humans are social creatures, this phenomenon of solo activities could have stemmed from the hyperconnectivity many people experience via social media and smartphones. Instead of wanting to connect with more people, we are now seeking relief from being social – but online.
Some may conflate being alone with being lonely but that is not always the case. This video below explains how one can feel good about being alone yet without feeling a sense of loneliness.
Perhaps more people realise that they can get rid of the fear of being seen alone. Going about activities alone confers benefits such as not having to compromise on activities that companions may not like. The rise of solo travelling in recent years seems to also attest to such benefits.
Questions for further personal evaluation:
- Would you enjoy solo activities? Why or why not?
- What are some of the disadvantages of travelling alone?
Useful vocabulary:
- ‘archetypal’: very typical of a certain kind of person or thing
- ‘ubiquitous’: present, appearing, or found everywhere
Picture credits: https://pixabay.com/en/tokyo-japan-city-cities-urban-290981/