[liveoneggs]

there are lonely and alone people everywhere; the japanese have just given them a name, which seems far too broadly applied (goes out at night to get food but stays inside during the day vs been inside for ten years and refuses to speak).

I guess if you name a thing it becomes a thing.

[qplex]

The Shut-ins.

I think the definition is accurate enough: people who recluse inside their rooms or houses for extended periods of time and don't have any real life social relationships.

So not just 'lonely'.

Also to get food at night in Japan doesn't necessarily mean that you have to interact with people: I've heard you can buy pretty much anything from the vending machines.